An artilleryman's diary

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

(a)

JENKIN LLOYD JONES

WISCONSIN HISTORY COMMISSION: ORIGINAL PAPERS, No. 8

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

BY JENKIN LLOYD JONES

PRIVATE SIXTH WISCONSIN BATTERY

WISCONSIN HISTORY COMMISSION
FEBRUARY, 1914

TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED COPIES PRINTED

COPYRIGHT, 191i

THE WISCONSIN HISTORY COMMISSION
(in behalf of the Stale of Wisconsin)

Opinions or errors of fact on the part of the respective authors of
the Commission's publications (whether Reprints or Original Narra
tives) have not been modified or corrected by the Commission. For
all statements, of whatever character, the Author alone is responsible.

DEMOCRAT PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTER

CONTENTS

PAGE

WISCONSIN HISTORY COMMISSION . . ix

AUTHOR'S PREFACE xi

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY:

First impressions 1

Up and down the Mississippi and Yazoo . . 35

Encircling Vicksburg 48

The siege of Vicksburg 59

A well-earned rest ...... 78

At work again 92

En route to Chattanooga 102

With Grant at Chattanooga .... 132

In winter quarters 148

On to Atlanta 221

Watching Hood 268

Wintering at Nashville .'.... 289

Garrisoning Chattanooga 303

Victory 318

Awaiting discharge 338

Homeward bound ...... 358

Home at last 363

INDEX 369

[v]

284410

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
JrORTRAiT OF THE AUTHOR . . . Frontispiece

A GROUP OF COMRADES 128

A GROUP OF OFFICERS 250

ENTRY IN DIARY, December 20, 1864. Photographic

facsimile 290

PORTRAITS OF AUTHOR taken in 1862, 1863, 1865 . 358
GROUP OF SIXTH WISCONSIN BATTERY, taken in 1897 364

vii ]

WISCONSIN HISTORY COMMISSION

(Organized under the provisions of Chapter 298, Laws of
1905, as amended by Chapter 378, Laws of 1907,
Chapter 445, Laws of 1909, Chapter 628, Laws of
191 1, and Chapter 772, Section 64, Laws of 1913)

FRANCIS E. McGOVERN

Governor of Wisconsin

CHARLES E. ESTABROOK

Representing Department of Wisconsin, Grand Army
of the Republic

MILO M. QUAIFE

Superintendent of the State Historical Society of Wis
consin

CARL RUSSELL FISH

Professor of American History in the University of
Wisconsin

MATTHEW S. DUDGEON

Secretary of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission

Chairman, COMMISSIONER ESTABROOK
Secretary and Editor, CARL RUSSELL FISH

Committee on Publications, COMMISSIONERS DUDGEON AND-
FISH

ix]

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

Whatever value this publication may have, lies in the fact
that it offers a typical case — a small cross section of the army
that freed the slave and saved the Union.

The Editor of the Commission's publications has asked me
to state briefly something about myself. I am one of the mul
titude of "hyphenated" Americans, born across the water
but reared under the flag. I am a Cambro-American, proud
of both designations, and with abundant heart, loyalty, and
perhaps too much head pride in both. Introduced to this
world in Llandyssul, Cardiganshire, Wales, November 14, 1843,
I celebrated my first anniversary by landing at Castle Garden,
in New York City. My parents were sturdy " come-outers "
who. after the manner called "heresy", even among Protest
ants, worshipped the God of their fathers. They came from
what in orthodox parlance was known as the "Smwtyn Du"
the heretical "black-spot" in Wales. I am the third Jenkin
Jones to preach that liberal interpretation of Christianity
generally known as Unitarianism. The first Jenkin Jones
preached his first heretical sermon in his mother's garden
wray back in 1726, ninety-three years before Charming
preached his Baltimore sermon (1819), from which latter
event American Unitarianism generally dates its beginning.

My father was a prosperous hatter-farmer — making hats
for the local markets during the winter months, tilling his
little ten-acre farm during the summer time. My parents were
lured to America by the democracy here promised. In our
fsTnily, freedom was a word to conjure by. Hoping for larger
privileges for the growing family of children, they brought
them to the New World, the world of many intellectual as well
as material advantages. The long sea voyage of six weeks Jn

[xi]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

a sailing vessel, interrupted by a dismantling storm which com
pelled the ship to return for repairs after two weeks sailing,
brought them into the teeth of winter, too late in the season
to reach their objective point in the West. So the journey was
suspended and the first winter spent in a Welsh settlement
near Steuben, New York.

May, 1845, found us in the then territory of Wisconsin. The
broad, fertile, and hospitable open prairie country in southern
Wisconsin was visited and shunned as a desert land, "a coun
try so poor that it would not grow a horse-switch." And so,
three " forties" of government land were entered in the heavy
woods of Rock River valley, forty miles west of Milwaukee,
midway between Oconomowoc and Watertown, which then
were pioneer villages. The land was bought at $1.20 an acre,
then were purchased a yoke of oxen and two cows; and when
these were paid for, there remained one gold sovereign ($5)
to start life with — father, mother, and six children.

Trees were felled for the log house which for the first six
months was roofed with basswood bark, for the shingles had
not only to be made, but the art of making them had to be ac
quired. In this log house were spent the first twelve remem
bered years of my life. In it four more children were born.
In the log school-house, built in the middle of the road because
it was built before the road was there — we had arrived before
the surveyor — I learned to speak, read, and love the English
language. My first teacher was a Cambro- American who could
by her bi-lingual accomplishment ease the way of the little
Welsh immigrant children into English. I think I can remem-,
ber crying when the teacher would speak to me in the then
unintelligible English.

In 1856, my thirteenth year, the family began to realize that
they had chosen a hard place in which to make a home. The
battle would have been a grim one, with the tall trees acid their
stumps, the "hardhead" boulders, the marshes, the mosqui
toes, and the semi-annual attack of ague, had it not been light-

[xii]

PREFACE

eued with the blind hopes and the inspirations that bring to
frontier lives the consolations and encouragements of the pio
neer. So the home in Ixonia, that had welcomed the coming
of the first plank-road and witnessed the approach of the La
Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad as far as Oconomowoc, was sold,
and in 1855 we moved to a farm of 400 acres in Sauk County.

The next year this was reached by the old Milwaukee
& Mississippi Railroad and the village of Spring Green
was established, adjoining the farm. Here I worked on
the farm in the summer time, and during the winter time grew
with the growing village school in Spring Green. During the
spring term of school, in 1861, the boys were organized into the
Spring Green Guards. "Billy" Hamilton, a clerk in George
Pound's store, was excused by his employer during the noon
hour and the recesses, to come over to drill us. The tresses,
black or golden, were sacrificed. Our hair was " shingled "
and we wore cadet caps. Of course the boys had been stirred
when they heard of the humiliation preceding the inaugura
tion of Lincoln, of the firing on Sumter; and in the autumn all
of the Spring Green Guards who were ripe enough heard and
heeded the call of Father Abraham. Captain "Billy" Ham
ilton went out as sergeant in the 6th Wisconsin Battery, and
four years later came back as colonel at the head of the 36th
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.

I was too young to go out in 1861. I cannot say that I
panted for the fray. I dreaded the coming of the dire moment
when conscience, not the government, would deliver me into
a service that had no charm for me. Another winter's school
ing in the Spring Green Academy, another sowing and harvest
time, then leaving unstacked the hay that I had mown, and in
the shocks the oats that I had cradled, I obeyed this "stern
daughter of the voice of God" — to use Wordsworth's phrase —
and turned my face to the South. I joined my old comrades
of the Spring Green Guards in the 6th Wisconsin Battery, nine
months or so after their first enlistment.

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

I was a "mother's boy", and with the exception of three
months' district schooling at an aunt's house in Watertown,
when a little lad, had never been away from home over night.
I had not then and have not since, owrned a firearm of any
description. As I approach my three-score-and-ten, I can say
that I have never sighted a gun, or pulled the trigger on any
thing smaller than a cannon, and that only when ordered.

It seems necessary for me to state further, that throughout
the three years of camp life, as through all the succeeding
years, I have been a total abstainer from all forms of liquor
and tobacco. The strictures throughout the Diary concerning
the over-use of intoxicants were written from this standpoint,
and perhaps were over stated. At least truth requires that I
should at this distance testify that the bulk of the Union Army,
so largely made up of boys, was of stern stuff, with their lives
rooted in seriousness and committed to sobriety, as the subse
quent careers of those who were allowed to return amply prove.
Many things set forth in this Diary were necessarily untrue
to fact, but there is nothing but what was true to the thought
and feeling of the writer at the time. The simplicity of the
narrative and the lapse of time, will, I hope, take all the barbs
out of any random shafts that may have been fired by a battery
boy.

The monotonous story of this battery boy is told in long me
tre in the Diary here published. The only remarkable thing
about the record is, that it exists and is still available fifty
years after the writing. Of course every soldier lad started
to keep a diary. Very few persisted to the end; rare is the
private who did not outlast his own diary. And then again,
the vicissitudes of the camp, the hopeless carelessness of the
American people to contemporary history, have carried to
oblivion most of such records. These ten little memorandum
books would doubtless have suffered a like fate, were it not
for the vigilance of the home folk, to whose care the succes
sive volumes were promptly consigned. And then many

[xiv]

PREFACE

years after, there was the loving, unsolicited persistency of
a faithful amanuensis, who, unbeknown to me, in the " cracks
of time," patiently and faithfully transcribed the entire story,
which was fast becoming illegible in the original camp- and
battle-staine'd little books, to the clear, typewritten sheets
which made them available to the Wisconsin History Com
mission. To Miss Minnie Burroughs, now Mrs. Herbert Turn
er of Berkeley, California, belongs therefore the basic credit
for this publication.

Further acknowledgment is due to the Editor of the Com
mission, and to several of his able assistants on the editorial
staff of the Wisconsin Historical Society. They have with
great painstaking verified every word of the transcription
with my original gnarled manuscript, have corrected (so far
as possible by the official rolls) the names of the persons
whom I have mentioned in the Diary, have read the proof,
and in general have put the book through the press. This
has involved an amount of labor which under the circum
stances I could not have given, and without which the pub
lication would have been inexcusable. It is the Editor's in
telligent hand also that furnished most of the geograph
ical date-lines, the paragraphing, the folio headings, the sub
heads, and the countless other editorial embellishments so
essential to a presentable publication. » * * Technical
work of this sort is entirely lost on the reader, of course, but
it is profoundly appreciated by at least the present grateful
author.

The post-bellum story of this journalizing private of the 6th.
Wisconsin Battery does not belong in this book. Should any
one be curious to connect the soldier in uniform with the
militant citizen, who, with more pacific weapons, has con
tinued his contentions for freedom, justice, and union, let
the following suffice. There was a year's work on the new
farm in Iowa County ; then a winter of teaching the common
school at Arena, Wisconsin, with ninety children, ranging from

[xv]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

the little German child grappling with her English A. B. C. 's,
to students in algebra and geometry. During one year there
was an honest attempt to accept the path apparently laid out
for me — that of an honest, hard-working farmer. And then
the hunger for books, the blind push on thought lines, the
half-unrecognized leadings towards another career, broke be
yond control, and I left the farm. Then came four years'
study at the Theological Seminary at Meadville, Pennsyl
vania ; a pastorate of a year at Winnetka, Illinois ; nearly ten
years of similar work at Janesville, "Wisconsin, and lastly a
thirty-two years' ministry in All Souls Church, Chicago, which
I organized and in which I continue to work. For the last
eight years I have been head resident of the Abraham Lincoln
Centre, which I founded and which I still direct. For thirty-
two years I have been Editor of Unity, a weekly independent
religious magazine, devoted to "Freedom, Fellowship, and Char
acter in Religion. ' '

In 1890 I secured possession of a tract of land which was
once the site of the prosperous early Wisconsin village of
Helena, on the banks of the Wisconsin River in Iowa County,
where in 1863 ex-Governor C. C. Washburn and C. C. Wood
man, two young men, founded a shot -making manufactory. The
old shot tower gave name to the summer encampment known
as Tower Hill, where, in connection with the little farm ad
joining, I have found vacation rest and renewal for the last
twenty years.

Two graves have touched me with peculiar tenderness, and
suggest the unwritten and too often cruelly-neglected pathos
in the life of the immigrant pioneer, much of which I have
seen, a part of which I have been. A little sister, two years
my senior, a fair blossom, wilted on the journey and the little
body was left in a roadside grave in Utica, New York. I was
too young to remember her, but through all the succeeding
years that unmarked and unvisited grave has left a hallowed
touch of tenderness in the home, and given to the missing one

[xvi]

PREFACE

a potency perhaps greater than abides with the unburied that
remain.

Scarce a year had elapsed after the arrival in the ' * big woods ' '
when the fatherly uncle, the bachelor-partner whose name I
bear, fell before the relentless attack of fever — so easily
controlled now, but so fatal then. He died in a saw-mill at
Oconomowoc, and the first grave in the settlement was hol
lowed by the hands of his brother at the foot of a great tree
in the deep forest. The father and brother, who was " priest
unto his own household," read and prayed and woke the
forest echoes with his own voice, as he sang a sustaining old
Welsh hymn. Perhaps this devout tradition lying back of my
memory has had much to do with what faithfulness may have
characterized the services of the private whose Diary is here re
corded, and the ministry whose career was bargained for, to a
degree that cannot be estimated in the sombre forest and the
tented field.

Perhaps another word may be pardoned. On the way to
Camp Randall, the tears which had scarcely dried from the
heart-break that followed a mother's last embrace, started
afresh at the sight of the dome of the old University building
at Madison. For the months preceding the enlistment, the
struggle had been not choosing between home and camp. No!
not even between danger and safety, life and death, but what
seemed the final choice between a country to save and an
education to acquire. For in the dim haze of the farmer boy's
horoscope, the University outline was shaping itself. In
choosing his country's cause it seemed to him that he was re
linquishing forever the hope of the education of which he
dreamed. Forty-seven years after the campus was dimmed
with his tears, the University of Wisconsin invested this pri
vate of the 6th Wisconsin Buttery with the degree of LL. D.
A great thing was done for humanity in America, between
1861 and 1865. If it could not have been done otherwise, it
was worth all it cost. And if this same dire predicament were

0» xvii

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

to come again, I would do my past all over again. But Oh!
it was such a wrong way of doing the right thing! May the
clumsy sentences of a boy's diary, so lacking in perspective,
so inadequate in expression, contribute a few sentences to the
Gospel of Peace.

TOWER HILL, Wisconsin, September 9, 19.13.

| xviii

The Diary of an Artillery Private

A Journal of daily events during my campaign in the war to
crush the rebellion in 1861. If in the battle I may fall, or die
aivay from the withering hand of disease in the hospital, this
favor may I ask, to send this and what may accompany it to
my aged parents. Addressed to R. LI. Jones, Lone Rock, Rich-
land Co.

First Impressions

Spring Green, Wis., Thursday, Aug. 14, 1862. ' I enlisted un
der Lieutenant Fancher for the 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artil
lery.

Madison, Wis., Monday, Aug. 25. I bade good-bye to friends,
relatives and companions most dear, and at 8 o'clock embarked
for Madison to begin my soldier's life. Arrived at camp
at 12 M. and slept my first night on the lap of mother earth with
Uncle Sam's blanket for a coverlid and a few rough boards
raised about four feet in the center for a roof. I laid down;
my eyelids were heavy and demanded sleep but the mind wan
dered and the stars shone bright and it was long ere sleep threw
her curtain over the scene.

Madison, Tuesday, Aug. 26. I got partially rested by my
short sleep, but I was awake long ere the rising of the sun. I
awoke to a different scene to which had hitherto been my lot.
Instead of the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, was
the rattle of the drum and the ''hooray" of the volunteers.

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

To-day we were examined by the surgeon and went up- town ior
the purpose of drawing our bounty money, but the press of
business was too large, and we were put off till the next day.
In the evening I had to bid good-bye to my brother John, who
had accompanied me to camp. It was a difficult task— my con
stant companion in labor, my adviser and counsel in everything.
I had to part. It seemed as if I was like a ship on sea without
a compass, without other safeguard than my own firmness and
weight.

Madison, Wednesday, Aug. 27. I had to pass through the reg
ular scramble-game for my rations, and drew the bounty in the
afternoon, went around town and bought my outfit, ready to
leave.

Enroute, Thursday, Aug. 28. To-day we were informed that
we were to be sent on in the evening. I wrote my first letter
home and in the evening we started for " Dixie" at 10 P. M.
It was dark and we could not see anything to attract our at
tention so our minds had free scope to wander home to loved
ones, and it was a saddening thought that we were to leave all
of these, to meet at best a very uncertain fate. We passed on
to Milton where our car was uncoupled and taken up by the
Janesville R. R., and off we rocked for another four or five
hours' ride, half asleep, and by this time somewhat fatigued.
At Janesville we changed cars for Chicago, it being about 1
A. M.

Enroute, Friday, Aug. 29. The day dawned just in time to
see the suburbs (Chicago). We being about five miles from
town received a magnificent view of the Western metropolis.
The immense clouds of smoke issuing from the massive stacks
of manufacture, and the countless rigging of the vessels lying
at the dock were great sights to my country eyes. We arrived
at the end of the line at 6:30 A. M. We were immediately
formed in line, and forward march to the depot of the I[llinois]

[2]

1862] CAMP ROUTINE

C[entral] R. R. about a mile distant. We were no sooner
there than the shrill whistle told us we were again on a ride
of three hundred and sixty-five miles to Cairo, without inter
mission. We crossed an arm of Lake Michigan having a fine
view of the lake. Of our travel across the almost boundless
prairies of Illinois I will not try to describe, but suffice it to
say, we arrived at Cairo at 4 A. M.

Cairo, 111., Saturday, Aug. 30. We were astir early to catch
the first sight of the far-famed city of Cairo (111.), and cer
tainly an unhappy surprise we found it; the combined medley
of filth and disorder, the streets rough, the sidewalks torn and
tattered, rendering it dangerous to travel, lest they should
throw one headlong to the ditch.

Rienzi, Miss., Tuesday, Sept. 2. We went out in the morn
ing to drill on the field but did not see much into the wild
scampering way. I wrote to Sp[ring] Gr[een]. Had no time
to write home before mail went out. Was drilled on foot by
Corporal Sweet in the evening.

Rienzi, Wednesday, Sept. 3. Woke by the bugle at 3:30
A. M. ; went out to roll call and drill. The weather fine. Washed
shirt and stockings for first time. Wrote home. Drilled by
Syl. Sweet in the evening on the gun. The enemy skirmished
our pickets, wounded three; our horses were harnessed ready.
I felt ai little flushed.

Rienzi, Thursday, Sept. 4. Acted as No. 6 on drill to-day.
Made a galloping time of it. Did my first sweeping. Saw
the first nigger dance; watered horses in the evening; fell in
with clothes on.

Rienzi, Friday, Sept. 5. Went out as No. 6. Was a little
unwell. Infantry preparing to move. Bad news from the
Potomac.

[3]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

Rienzi, Saturday, Sept 6. Went through the usual routine
of drill and camp life. Received my first mail since my ar
rival, consisting of two letters and a [Milwaukee] Sentinel.
Changed mess. The 2nd Missouri Infantry left. Wagons
moving, fires burning all night.

Rienzi, Sunday, Sept. 7. Arose to the sound of the bugle
at 3 A. M. Prepared for a general inspection, but Captain,
apprehending a move, did not call us out. Drew good bunks
from the old camp of 2nd Missouri. After roll call at 9 P. M.
I went to bed hoping to have a good night's rest, but I was
doomed to disappointment, for ere two hours had elapsed, we
were awakened by Corporal Dixon telling us to pack up all our
clothing and be in readiness to march. We of course obeyed
and waited for further orders, when about midnight, "Strike
your tents" was given. This done, the mules began driving
in, loading was commenced, the horses harnessed, and by one
o'clock all was ready to march. That which could not be
token was piled up ready for the march, but the order did not
come, so we were obliged to pick our place and lay down for a
short and uneasy sleep.

Rienzi, Monday, Sept. 8. To-day was spent in anxious wait
ing. I stood guard for the first time while we were momen
tarily expecting orders to leave; slept in the open air.

Rienzi, Tuesday, Sept. 9. Another day dawned without any
orders. Some of the boys pitched their tents. I went out for
aging in the afternoon.

Rienzi, Wednesday, Sept. 10. This was another day of idle
waiting; most of the boys slept in tents last night, and it was
supposed we would have to stay here. I went out foraging
in the morning.

""Rienzi, Thursday, Sept. 11. I answered the summons of the
reveille, but I did not feel very well; had an attack of the

[4]

1862] STRATEGIC MOVES

ague but got over it by dinner. Nothing to break the monot
ony of camp life. Reinforced by one regiment of infantry.

Rienzi, Friday, Sept. 12. Spent the morning as usual in
suspense of leaving, but finally the orders came to send all the
baggage train to Clear Creek, a distance of ten miles to the
west, and that we were to be stationed as an out-post. De
tailed to go a -foraging, brought in two loads of corn from the
south. The 1st Section were ordeFed out to the front. Had
the first rain storm in the evening, and ere the morning I had
a regular old shake of the ague.

Rienzi, Saturday, Sept. 13. The 3rd Section, Lieutenant
Hood, went out in front and the first fell back to its old
grounds. Foraging party brought in two loads of corn, three
neat cattle, one sheep, twelve geese, seven hens, two or three
bushels of sweet potatoes.

Rienzi, Sunday, Sept. 14. Was begun with another of the
"strategic moves". We were told to hitch up with the great
est speed — all our baggage, knapsacks, etc. were put in a
wagon, nothing was left to encumber us from a rapid and a
desperate fight [in] which we were expected to share. The 3d
Section, two regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, started at 3
A. ]rf. But all rumors of the enemy's presence proved false,
and after lying in the shade, horses' hitched, for an hour, we-
returned, unharnessed and lay quiet all day. The 3rd Section:
returned at 4 P. M. without seeing any enemy.

Rienzi, Monday, Sept, 15. To-day we began business in the
old way. We had to sweep up for the first time, in a week.
1 stood guard for the second time.

Rienzi, Tuesday, Sept. 16. We were aroused this morning
with the same story of march and ordered to cook three days'
rations and be ready to march at 1 P. M., but did not go and
all quieted down again. The 3rd Section went out in the after-

[5]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

noon and stationed itself at bastion No. 5 at 9 P. M. Dis
patches were brought around to the effect that McClellan had
captured the rebel army of Virginia including General Lee.
Nothing could induce us to restrain our joy but the fear of its
being false.

Rienzi, "Wednesday, Sept. 17. Was begun by a heavy shower
of rain at about 9 A. M. I joined the foraging party and we
started on the Corinth road. We had scarcely started before
it began to rain and a perfect torrent poured until we returned,
pretty well drenched. The rest of the day was spent inside
of the tent as the rain continued nearly all day.

Rienzi, Thursday, Sept. 18. We awoke in a wet bed, it hav
ing rained very hard the latter part of the night. We received
orders to march for Jacinto at 3 A. M. but countermanded
before doing any harm save the usual harnessing up by the
drivers about 9 A. M. The prisoners captured at Danville,
twenty-three in number, including two captains, were marched
to headquarters.

Rienzi, Friday, Sept. 19. On roll call the Captain told us
that Burnside had captured the whole of Longstreet's command
at Harpers Ferry after their first capturing the place and the
whole army under Colonel Miles. Three cheers were given
with a spirit. No mail. Went after berries in the afternoon.

Rienzi, Saturday, Sept. 20. There was nothing to break the
monotony of camp life. Wrote two letters. Washed clothes.
In the evening news of another battle at luka. They cleaned
Price out and chased him four miles; 400 killed on both sides.

Rienzi, Sunday, Sept. 21. Was another repetition of that a
week ago only on a little larger scale. The horses were har
nessed at 1 A. M. and we went out on the Ripley road three
quarters of a mile, laid there half an hour waiting for the
enemy, then filed left on our drilling ground, drilled half an
hour, then came home and unharnessed. Received new gun-

[6]

1862] BATTLE OF CORINTH

carriages and caissons in the afternoon. Report of another
great battle at luka in which 1000 of our men were killed in
twenty-five minutes. Colonel Murphy of the 8th put under
arrest for withdrawing his men. Stood guard duty.

Rienzi, Monday, Sept. 22. To-day I felt very weak, there
was no local pain, but a general debility.

Rienzi, Tuesday, Sept. 23. To-day I felt but a little better,
got some milk and corn bread. With the secesh [women] had
an encounter before I left.

Corinth, Miss., Sunday, Oct. 5. As it is seen from the last
date, I have not written any for some time and I must write
of the past from memory. Not getting any better, I went to
the Company hospital on September 24 and there was treated
for fever of which I had but a very slight touch. On the
morning of October 1 every man that could not join his platoon
was to be sent to Corinth as the Battery was going to move,
so I and four others were put in the ambulance and driven to
the depot, but the cars did not come till 2 P. M. When they
came, they loaded all the commissary stores in the rooms. E.
R. Hungerford and myself were lucky enough to get into the
box car. We got to Corinth in about two hours, and after
waiting an hour we were taken in a mule wagon to the Sem
inary Hospital situated on a hill about one mile and a half
from Corinth.

We were put in a comfortable tent and lay there unmolested
until the 3rd, when early in the morning heavy firing was
heard and continued all day. We learned that the cannon had
been attacked by the rebels consisting of Price, Breckinridge.
Van Dorn and one other commander. In the afternoon we had
to move down under the hill, we being right in the range of
the guns should they open fire in that direction at night. We
were ordered to have everything packed so as to leave at a mo
ment's notice. At about 12 o'clock at night we were ordered

[7]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

out on the road, while the tents were' struck and cots piled.
Presently the teams began driving in and loading men and
cots. At last our turn came, but not until the rebs had opened
fire on the town with three guns throwing shells. We had to
pass under the fire. The shells whistled over our heads in
every direction, while off went the mules as fast as they could
trot. It certainly was a rough ride. They drove us through
town and left us on the east of it about l/2 mile. By this time
it was nearly day-light and the guns used by the rebs throwing
shells were taken. About 9 o'clock the engagement became
general. The noise of the musketry, occasionally broken in
upon by the loud peal of artillery, made it truly terrific. The
fight lasted about three hours, when the rebs were obliged to
skedaddle.

All of this time we had heard nothing from the Battery. We
supposed that it had been engaged, when at 12 o'clock Dr.
Miller came around and told us that the Battery had been en
gaged that morning, and had been taken and retaken, but he
could not give us a list of the casualties. We heard nothing
more from the Battery until to-day, G. M. Spencer came with
a list of casualties. He informed us that the sick and wounded
were gathered in a company hospital about a quarter of a
mile to the south. We remained in the general hospital until

Corinth, Tuesday, Oct. 7. The doctor came to take our
names to be sent to a Northern hospital as they had no room
for us [in the general hospital]. I asked permission to join
the Company hospital, which was granted, so in the afternoon
we joined our comrades ; found the wounded all in good spirits.

Corinth, Saturday, Oct. 11. The Battery returned from its
chase after the retreating rebs, of a week in length. In the
evening the Captain and Sergeant Simpson rode into our camp,
the Battery being in camp two and one half miles out.

Corinth, Sunday, Oct. 12. To-day it was a little warmer,
the rain of the last two days having cleared. My anxiety to

[8]

1862] MEMORIALS FOR THE DEAD

visit the Battery was such that I was induced to start out on
foot in order to see them. The walk was rather fatiguing as it
was rather warm, but we found them at last on a ridge in a
shady grove. But it did not look much like the camp of the
6th Battery, as they had no tents pitched and were quartered
in brush bivouacs or under tarpaulins; I found them all well
but somewhat reduced by the inarch. I remained with them
for an hour, then retraced my steps alone through the solitary
woods. I enjoyed pleasant thoughts of the good times to come.
I reached camp by sunset well pleased with my walk and not
as fatigued as I expected.

Corinth, Monday, Oct. 13. The troops on the outskirts of
the town were all moved in, among which were the 6th Battery.
They passed our encampment at about 8 A. M. ; their designa
tion was unknown but supposed not to be far. Quartermaster-
Sergeant Simpson brought new clothing to camp in the after
noon. I drew one jacket, pair of pants and a hat.

Corinth, Tuesday, Oct. 14. Having learned the locality of
our Battery, it being encamped on the south side of the town,
the wounded men were removed to the general hospital, and
the sick were taken to the Battery, with the exception of N. B.
Hood and Byron Babcock.

Corinth, Thursday, Oct. 16. I joined my Platoon, went into
tent with E. W. Evans and T. J. Hungerford as before. Ow
ing to my weakness I was not put on full duty immediately,
being excused from mounted drill, etc.

Corinth, Friday, Oct. 17. Resolutions relative to those who
fell in battle on the 4th inst. were offered by H. S. Keene and
unanimously adopted by the camp on roll call P. M.

Corinth, Saturday, Oct. 18. Roll call in the evening.

made an explanation as to his whereabouts on the day of bat-

[9]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

tie, and the orderly read a certificate from the commander of
the llth Ohio Battery, corroborating his statement.

Corinth, Sunday, Oct. 19. To-day we were told the sad
news of the death of one of our number, John Haskins, who
died during the night of chronic diarrhea. We had an inspec
tion at 9 A. M. and in the afternoon we paid the last tribute
of respect which one man can pay to another, to the remains
of our comrade, Haskins. He was buried by the side of the
brave five that fell in the battle of Corinth.

Corinth, Monday, Oct. 20. To-day we had to police the en
tire camp ground as it was reported that General Rosecrans
was going to inspect camp. The ground was shoveled and
swept over, but no Rosecrans came.

Corinth, Tuesday, Oct. 21. Finished policing around the
guns. In the afternoon after the Company was formed for
drill, as Orderly Hayward was returning after reporting to
the Captain, his horse stumbled, falling on him, spraining his
right ankle and fracturing the cap bone.

Corinth, Wednesday, Oct. 22. While on drill in the after
noon, I, in attempting to mount, lost my balance and fell, the
hind wheel of the caisson running over my left ankle, luckily
without any dislocation. After drill I was taken to the hos
pital, my foot being very painful during the night.

Corinth, Thursday, Oct. 23. The weather turned very windy
and cold, water freezing in the night !/4 inch in thickness.

Corinth, Friday, Oct. 24. My foot was a little easier. Dr.
Arnold of the 12th Wisconsin Battery dressing it and keeping
it cool by water. The weather still cold.

Corinth, Saturday, Oct. 25. We were moved from the tent
this morning to an old deserted house a quarter of a mile from

[10]

1862] HOSPITAL CASES

camp. In the afternoon it snowed and by night the earth was
clothed in white.

Corinth, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. The
troops were engaged in fortifying. All the buildings on the
outskirts were torn down regardless of worth and hauled away
by the troops to build stables, barracks, etc.

Corinth, Saturday, Nov. 1. Orders were given to Battery to
cook three days' rations in their haversacks and three days' in
the wagons, all ready to march on the following morning.

Corinth, Sunday, Nov. 2. I walked up to the Battery, the
farthest I had walked since my lameness. Saw the boys off;
they left their tents standing, their knapsacks etc. under charge
of Lieutenant Simpson, and those unfit for the march. The
inmates of the hospital were taken to the general hospital un
der Dr. Arnold, nine in number, viz: Orderly J. G. S. Hay-
ward (fractured ankle), Corporal G. B. Jones (chronic diar
rhea; waiting for discharge) ; "W. W. Wyman (waiting for dis
charge) ; G. W. Benedict (diarrhea) ; E. W. Evans (fever) ;
David Evans (convalescent) ; Alex. Bay (convalescent) ; E. E.
Hungerford (chronic diarrhea) ; Jenk. L. Jones (bruised ankle),
remained in the hospital until

Corinth, Sunday, Nov. 9. Learning that the Battery had
gone to camp at Grand Junction, Tenn., Sergeant Hamilton
was sent back to bring forward the baggage, etc., etc. and was
to start by train in the morning. E. W. Evans, David Evans
and myself procured a dismissal from the hospital and bade
good-bye to our comrades (who were all doing well except E.
R. Hungerford, who was very low) at 6 :30 A. M. and reported
at the depot. We found the boys and baggage on the plat
form, but owing to the rush of troops we could not get off to
day. We laid around all day, exchanged our tents, drew some
quartermaster stores.

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

Corinth, Monday, Nov. 10. We were again disappointed, the
train leaving us behind and nothing to do but wait another
twenty-four hours. In the afternoon E. W. Evans and I went
to the hospital where we learned that our comrade E. R. Hun-
gerford had died at about 2 P. M. Sunday, and was to be
buried in the evening.

Corinth, Tuesday, Nov. 11. Lay on the platform all day,
and at night we were furnished a car to load our baggage.
We loaded it by 12 P. M.

Grand Junction, Tenn., Wednesday, Nov. 12. It having
rained during the night, the dust was converted to mud. Ate
a breakfast of cold beef and bread, filled our canteens with
water, when we scrambled on top the freight cars in order to
procure transportation. It was raining, and when the train
was in motion the smoke and cinders were torturing. Arrived
at Jackson at 1 P. M. Waited an hour for dinner, then took
Mississippi Central R. R. for Grand Junction. Remained at
Medon Station till 6 P. M. when G. M. Spencer and I spread
our blankets and laid down; awoke at Grand Junction at 3
A. M.

Grand Junction, Thursday, Nov. 13. Lieutenant Simpson
went in search of the Battery early and left us to unload and
guard the baggage. The teams arrived from the Battery 3
P. M. We loaded and started out about three miles and en
camped 'where the team that left Corinth on the 8th had biv
ouacked for the night.

Davis Mills, Miss., Friday, Nov. 14. Reached the Battery
about 10 A. M., it being situated one mile south of Davis Mills
in an open field; church and cemetery hard by.

Davis Mills, Saturday, Nov. 15. Heard from home. Re
ceived two letters, from John and Thomas, which eased my
anxiety. Listened to the first sermon [in camp].

[12]

1862] ON THE MARCH

Davis Mills, Sunday, Nov. 16. 10 A. M. we had a general
inspection by U. S. Grant and General Quinby of the 3rd
Division.

La Grange, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 17. Awoke to hear the
rain pattering briskly on the Sibley ftent] above me. We were
called out, and with expectations to march, we drew three
days' rations in our haversacks. 8 A. M. the rain cleared off
and the column of infantry began to move by on the road
leading to Holly Springs. At 9 A. M. we fell in rear of col
umn. We marched west about three quarters of a mile, then
turned north toward Lai Grange; travelled through very pretty
country. We halted at Wolf River to water our horses, fill
our canteens and ate a dinner of hard crackers and sugar.
Ascended a steep hill, half a mile in length, on the top of
which was situated La Grange, when we turned westward and
travelled until 7 P. M. Encamped on a hill. Killed a beef
for supper.

Moscow, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 18. Up at 4 A. M., cooked
our breakfast and again on the road by 6 o'clock, and after
a four hours' march through a broken country, well cleared,
persimmons plenty, we arrived at Moscow, where we went into
camp for the time. Rode to water through a town completely
deserted, no trace of a citizen. I, as could be expected, was
bothered on the march by my foot and could not have kept up,
were it not for S. E. Sweet, who allowed me to ride his colt
part of the time.

Moscow, Wednesday, Nov. 19. To-day, ordered to pack our
knapsacks, mark them preparatory to turning them over, and
take them to be stored until we were to be permanently camped.

Moscow, Thursday, Nov. 20. Mail arrived to-day. Received
two letters; weather rather cold. Went foraging in the morn
ing; returned with fresh pork, beans, corn and fodder in plenty.

[13]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

Moscow, Friday, Nov. 21. Weather cold and frosty. 2 P. M.
bugle sounded the assembly, ''Fall in", when we were given
orders to prepare to march immediately. The horses were
harnessed, everything packed ready for further orders which
after an hour waiting, came, to unharness. It proved to be
an alarm caused by a party of guerillas making a dash upon
our foraging train, capturing some seventy mules, then ske
daddling before the escort could come up.

Moscow, Saturday, Nov. 22. Griffith Thomas, E. W. Evans
and myself went to the spring in woods, washed our clothes and
returned by one o'clock. Weather warm and pleasant during
the day but very cold nights.

Moscow, Sunday, Nov. 23. Laid in tent all day. Mail ar
rived in the afternoon. Received two very welcome letters from
home and Thomas L.

Moscow, Monday, Nov. 24. I felt rather unwell, having had
a lusty old shake with the ague. In the night went to the
doctor, had four pills and an excuse from duty. Foraging party
brought in twenty-five bushels sweet potatoes, four hogs, a hive
of honey and two loads of corn.

Moscow, Tuesday, Nov. 25. Orders were sent to Captain to
have two best non-commissioned officers to report at Colonel
Powell's headquarters by 8 A. M. Sergt. A. J. Hood and Cor
poral Hauxhurst were sent, acting as orderlies. Tent moved
back. The whole camp policed. 2 o'clock the howitzers (3rd
and 5th pieces) were ordered out on picket duty without cais
sons, one extra horse.

Moscow, Wednesday, Nov. 26. Cold and chilly. Troubled
with diarrhea; felt rather bad.

Moscow, Thursday, Nov. 27. Our boys returned in the after
noon having been out to Collierville, eighteen miles distant,

[14]

1862] FACING THE ENEMY

burned a bridge, came upon a party of rebs, capturing three.
Weather cold and clear. Health improving.

Moscow, Friday, Nov. 28. Awoke before daylight with orders
to prepare to march. All was ready by 6:30 A. M. Started
at about 7 : 30, fell in rear of the column and marched toward
Holly Springs ; traveled all day with the exception of the neces
sary halts in the train. Passed through Early Grove 4 P. M.,
Hudsonville 7 P. M. Traveled until 9 P. M. Encamped near
Coldwater River for the night. The country was all woodland
except the cleared plantations ; after dark the air was illumined,
the raging fire caused by the dry leaves and fences, running
for miles, it being set out by the advance. Came into park in
a grove, made a " shebang" of shakes and laid down about
11:30 P. M.

Holly Springs, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 29. The bugle's notes
awoke me in the same position as that I fell asleep in three hours
before. Prepared for march and started with the sun, in ad
vance of the artillery; passed through Holly Springs about 11
A. M. ; passed through the streets where twenty-four hours be
fore the last of the rebels skedaddled. Holly Springs passed
my expectations in size and beauty, being the largest place I
have seen in Secession.

We traveled on in a southward course towards Waterford.
General Hamilton and troupe passed us about 4 miles beyond
Holly Springs. Two miles farther on we heard two guns dis
charged and heard rumors of a battle ahead. On the brow of
a hill we were shown the grounds where the cavalry were en
gaged in the morning with the Rebs' pickets, killing a Michigan
boy and three Rebs. Ascended the hill which overlooked Water-
ford, consisting of a mill and a small creek, branch of Coldwater
River. Here the enemy opened fire on our troops in the morn
ing with two pieces which were taken. We forded the stream
about 5 P. M., went into camp on the banks, got some flour from
the mills (ground by the secesh for supper), and laid down

[15]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

under the gun on soil twenty-four hours ago occupied by Rebs,
seven miles south of Holly Springs.

Lumpkin's Mill, Miss., Sunday, Nov. 30. This was a dark
and sultry morning, and about 8 A. M. while sitting upon the
ground, I felt the earth shake a kind of a dull roll, which was
felt by many. Firing with siege guns was commenced at about
nine o'clock and kept up briskly through most of the day.
While listening to the firing, expecting momentarily to be
called upon, the orders came to hitch up, get two days' rations
in haversacks, and ready to march in half an hour. 11 A. M.
At this time L. N. Keeler rode up for one man to go foraging.
Sergeant Hamilton detailed me. We started with two teams and
three men, Bowman, Leffart and myself. We went to the north
east one and one fourth miles, crossed the railroad, found our
corn in an old log barn. We had to turn around before loading
in order to be ready to leave in case of necessity, as the pickets
close by were expecting an attack. We loaded our corn got
three quarters of a barrel of salt from the smoke house and re
turned in a hurry. Found the Battery still there, unharnessed
and cooled down. The firing gradually ceased, and by night
was heard no more. We went to bed without knowing anything
of the result in the front.

P. S. This place represented as Waterford proved to be called
Lumpkin's Mill.

Lumpkin's Mill, Monday, Dec. 1. Awoke to find it a muddy
morning, it having rained very hard in the night, blowing the
fifth tent to the ground. Our tent leaked considerably. Laid
quiet all day. No firing heard. Bvie went foraging, gone
nearly all day. In the evening ordered to have two days' ra
tions ready to march at sunrise.

Enroute, Tuesday, Dec. 2. Advanced about five miles,
starting at about 8 o'clock, marched south, leaving Water-
ford on our left. Halted some three hours on the road, it

[161

1862] TAKING PRISONERS

raining continually. We were passed by General Hamilton and
staff, also General Grant and suite. Came into camp at 4 P. M.
some three miles from the Tallahatchie in open field near large
mansion used as Quiiiby's headquarters. Stretched our tar
paulin and slept sound.

Knroute, Wednesday, Dec. 3. A sunny and bright day,
dried up the mud and made things cheerful. Hitched up at 8
A. M., stayed harnessed until 3 P. M. We then moved out to
the river and went to camp in sight of the rebels' fortifications.
Some of the boys crossed the river while watering [horses],
Pitched our tents.

Enroute, Thursday, Dec. 4. We remained quiet all day.
Rained in the evening. Pitched Quartermaster's tent. Felt
symptoms of the ague, felt rather bad.

Enroute, Friday, Dec. 5. Took up the line of march through
mud and rain early. In the morning the rain that was con
tinually falling made the road almost unpassable for the artillery.
Crossed the Tallahatchie with difficulty, passed fortifications
which might have given us much trouble to pass had they been
held by their builders. Met thirty prisoners. Halted at Abbe
ville about two hours at noon, then pushed on. Night overtook
the train while crossing a lagoon [Herrington's Creek], which
was very difficult. Stood in the road till 8 P. M., when finding
it impossible to cross, we came into park on the road-side in an
old cornfield, slept on the tarpaulin, no shelter.

Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Dec. 6. Awoke with an unpleasant
feeling, a racking pain in back and head. Started out early, the
road having frozen hard enough to bear footmen, marched with
out much difficulty. Reached Oxford by noon. Neat place,
two-thirds the size of Holly Springs ; compared favorably with
it in building but not in situation. Went into camp on the
southern limits, saw some 700 prisoners marched in from the

2 [171

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [i&62

advance. Price stili ahead. One darky reported him almost
to hell.

Oxford, Sunday, Dec. 7. Nothing new. Laid in camp.
Many rumors afloat of Richmond taken, Bragg defeated, etc.
Health improving.

Oxford, Monday, Dec. 8. A lazy day for the Battery. Noth
ing transpired to excite the drowsiness of the soldier. Received
a paper of the 3rd containing the President's Proclamation.

Oxford, Tuesday, Dec. 9. Warm and pleasant. Quinby's
Division inspected by U. S. Grant and suite. Troubled with
diarrhea.

Oxford, Wednesday, Dec. 10. Warm and pleasant. Health
improving. Diarrhea checked by abstaining from all eatables
except hard crackers. All teams sent foraging. 3rd Platoon
had 1 hog, 2 geese.

Oxford, Thursday, Dec. 11. Rumors of march. Logan 's Di
vision left to-day. Troops passing in the afternoon. Had stand
ing gun drill. Ordered to have five roll calls in a day. Order
No. 1 from Colonel Marsh, 20th Illinois, post commander of
Oxford, read.

Near Oxford, Friday, Dec. 12. Orders given at roll call in
the morning to be ready to march at 7 A. M. 3 days' rations.
Took up the line of march back towards town much to the dis
satisfaction of all, which was relieved by turning south and once;
more on the track of old Price, travelled six miles, then went into
park. Took a team to drive, the center team on the gun formerly
driven by A. Dearborn.

Near Oxford, Saturday, Dec. 13. All quiet. Foraging party
started out at 6 A. M. Gone all day. They report a poor coun
try, with much more loyalty apparently than could be expected.
Citizens refuse to take Confederate scrip as heretofore, many
exhibiting a white flag on their dwellings upon which was in-

[18]

1862] NEGRO COOKS

scribed "Union". Received letters from John from Jefferson,
Wis.

Near Oxford, Sunday, Dec. 14. A day of excitement which
came near ending in a serious affair, caused by certain members
of the 1st Missouri Regular Battery assailing the colored cooks
as they were going after water. After dinner as Anthony [the
colored cook] was passing by, he was assaulted and abused. He
appealed to the boys, when a rush was made, and in an instant
a crowd was gathered consisting of the 6th and 12th Wisconsin
and llth Ohio against the Regulars, armed with clubs, revolvers,
knives and axes. The officers interposed, which closed it with
but a few bloody noses and several knock downs. Warm and
heavy.

Near Oxford, Monday, Dec. 15. It rained nearly all day,
making it very muddy, hard for our horses. No mail for two
days.

Near Oxford, Tuesday, Dec. 16. Pleasant and sunny. Health
never better. Lost my needle book, very sorry. Received three
days ' mail ; had two papers and' a letter from home.

Near Oxford, Wednesday, Dec. 17. The day was spent in the
common routine of camp duties ; drill in the afternoon by infan
try and artillery, presenting a lively scene. Received a [Mad
ison] State Journal from T. L. Jones.

Near Oxford, Thursday, Dec. 18. Warm and pleasant
Health excellent. Dr. Miller returned from Wisconsin in the
afternoon, much to the satisfaction of all. After roll call in the
evening, he appeared before the Company and made a speech,
after which three cheers were given to him. Seventy-five loads
of cotton brought into headquarters.

Near Oxford, Friday, Dec. 19. Bright and sunny. The de
lightful weather succeeded in enticing most of the boys from
eir well worn decks and cribbage boards, bringing them out in

[19]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

ball playing, pitching quoits, etc. Tallied for an interesting
game of base ball.

Near Oxford, Saturday, Dec. 20. Weather still warm. Sev
eral of the boys went to Oxford in the afternoon with Captain.
Returned with eight new horses, also with the report that the
Rebs were in possession of Holly Springs with 5,000 cavalry.
Had taken several prisoners, one of whom was Colonel Murphy,
8th Wisconsin; fears also were entertained that the paymasters
had been captured with their capital.

Oxford, Sunday, Dec. 21. Reveille earlier than usual ; orders
to hold in readiness to march, such orders being anticipated.
7 A. M. the whole Division took up the line of march back to
ward Oxford. Hitched up. The caisson fell in the train, but
the pieces with the 59th Indiana, Colonel Alexander, were left
for a rear guard. The Division passed by 9 A. M. but as the
train could not take all of the commissary stores and cotton at
headquarters, we had to lay there all day hitched up, waiting
for the trains to return from Oxford. They arrived at 4 P. M.,
loaded, and started back as soon as possible. We were ordered
to hitch up, as we could hear the drums beat for roll call on the
right of us; supposed to be Logan's Division. We fell in rear
of 59th about 8 P. M., leaving the place all quiet, the Rebs mak
ing slight demonstrations upon the infantry during the day not
withstanding. Pushed silently along towards Oxford, proceeded
toward our old camping ground. Brought into line by Lieuten
ant Clark on the right of the road in the flat. Captain Dillon
went up to the old camp. The caisson drivers being already on
the start, after pitching their tents and again striking, we passed
up the hill again, on the top of which, countermanded again,
unhitched and left the horses at the bottom. Laid down at 1
A.M.

Oxford, Monday, Dec. 22. Awakened by Sergeant Hamilton,
while the stars were yet bright, with orders to feed. I, unsatis-

[20]

1862] CHRISTMAS

fied with the short sleep, again laid down till daylight, until the
orders to water aroused me. Hitched up, drank a cup of coffee,
ate hard bread. The blankets were ordered off the guns and put
in the wagon. Expectations of a fight somewhere, but I know
not where. The troops were moving out all night.

Evening. At 9 A. M. the troops that had been called out in
the night returned to their old camp with the intelligence that
it was a false alarm of the enemy advancing upon Oxford. 12 M.
we unhitched, unharnessed and pitched our tents.

Enroute, Tuesday, Dec. 23. Struck our tents and took up
the line of march northwards at 8 A. M. Followed the same road
as that which we came in on, passed through Abbeville at noon,
recrossed the Tallahatchie at night, coming into camp on the same
ground as on the 2nd inst. To-day we passed the 23rd Wisconsin
Regiment, many of the boys met old acquaintances; reported
occupation of Jackson, Tenn., by the enemy.

Lumpkin's Mill, Wednesday, Dec. 24. A day of fasting to
Quinby's Division, the rations having run out yesterday and
none having arrived. I ate parched corn and drank coffee.
Marched to Lumpkin's Mill, went into camp 1 P. M. Drew ra
tions in the evening. A heifer found.

Lumpkin's Mill, Thursday, Dec. 25. Christmas! Christinas!
resounded through the camp this morning ; everyone turning the
gay reminiscence of the past in their minds and hoping again
to enjoy. Laid quiet during the day. Ate a Christmas dinner
of dumplings and unleavened bread. The howitzers ordered to
prepare to march, going in charge of a provision train to Mem
phis. Troubled with bad cold.

Tallaloosa, Miss., Friday, Dec. 26. Aroused early to prepare
to march. High wind, appearance of a storm. We were hitched
up with the rest of the Battery by 7 A. M., when it began to rain
heavy. The howitzers, under charge of Lieutenant Clark, with

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AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1862

two Parrott guns of the Regulars, two howitzers of the llth
Ohio, started out with four teams on the guns, two on the limbers
of the caissons, the hind wheels having been sent to Holly Springs
the night before. We passed on towards Memphis with the in
fantry of Quinby's Division paddling on the best they could;
marched on through very rough country till 4 P. M. Came into
park at Tallaloosa:, a God and man forsaken place. Rained
nearly all day. Supped on confiscated chickens, geese and fresh
pork.

Byhalia, Miss., Saturday, Dec. 27. Rained nearly all day.
Hitched up in the morning. The other sections took the road,
but as we were to be the rear guard, and the roads were so bad
that teams could not all come on for some time, we again unhar
nessed, laid in a good supply of disloyal pork and beef and a
few rebel chickens. 3 P. M. again hitched up and fell in the
rear of the train. It had cleared up and the roads considerably
improved. We were enabled to travel at very good time. Trav
elled till 10 P. M. Came into camp at Byhalia, Marshall County,
Miss., having travelled about ten miles on a most beautiful even
ing. A woman drew a pistol on one of our boys, driving him
from the yard.

Near Memphis, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 28. Slept out-doors. Awoke
at 5 A. M. A beautiful morning. Byhalia, unlike Tallaloosa,
was a bright and lively little village, with a large school house,
church, lodge room, with a scientific laboratory, out of which
the boys jay-hawked numerous books, writing utensils, etc. etc.
Picked up two horses and two mules. The owner of the horses
came and pleaded hard, but could receive no other satisfaction
than a receipt from Lieutenant Clark. He was reported to be
a rank Secesh, as well as everybody else.

We started with the 1st Brigade in rear of the train at 9 A. M.
Twenty-eight miles from Memphis, passed a house where a woman
stood in the yard, bravely holding the Stars and Stripes in her
hand (to protect her chickens I suppose). Marchjed along

[22]

1862] BRUSH WITH GUERRILLAS

quietly ; nothing of importance save the appropriation of consid
erable molasses along the road until half an hour of sundown
when a small party of guerrillas dashed up in our rear, discharg
ing some fifteen or twenty pieces, then legging it before their fire
could be returned. We halted, the cannoneers sprang to their
posts, got their equipments, when the 48th Indiana formed their
line. But it was all over with. They were gone, and we started
on. Two of the balls took effect, wounding two boys of the 48th
Indiana in the arms. An assistant adjutant general and sur
geon [who] had wandered a little from the train, were taken
also by a few of Jackson's cavalry, divested of their accoutre
ments and horses, then paroled.

7 P. M. Drew up three-fourths of an hour to feed our horses,
then started on, travelled till 10 P. M. Came into camp seven
miles from Memphis.

Memphis, Monday, Dec. 29. We passed into Memphis as
fast as the necessary detentions would permit, through a very
beautiful country and handsome buildings. Passed through the
town at about sundown, came into park alongside of the other
sections on the south of the town. Watered our horses at the
wharves about one and one half miles north, passing through
the town. Memphis presented a more lively appearance than I
expected under the present circumstances.

Memphis, Tuesday, Dec. 30. Awakened by the morning gun
at the fort : fell in for roll call, Sergeant Hamilton acting orderly.
Saw a Memphis Bulletin of the 30th, the first newspaper since
that bearing the date of the 12th. Watered my horses, then rode
into the fort with Colburn. Met Milton Campbell of the 23rd
Wisconsin Regiment. The Regiment had gone down the river,
leaving twenty-nine convalescents behind. The boys were fur
nished with a pass to go to town, others taking leg bail, by night.
Several heavy heads. Drew six days' rations.

Germantown, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 31. The train took up
the line of march back. Our Section being in the center started

[23]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

at 9 A. M., passing through town up Main Street. It was an
amusing sight, nearly two-thirds of the soldiers were druak,
having run Memphis as they pleased almost for the last twenty-
four hours. We followed the Memphis and Charleston R. R.
Came into park at Germantown at dark, having travelled fifteen
miles. Partook of a soldier's supper, made our bed neath the
starry canopy of heaven, and laid down, ending the year as we
began it, by sleeping. Thus endeth the year 1862.

La Fayette, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 1, 1863. New Year's morn
ing truly, but hard to realize. There was no cordial face of a
sister or blooming face of a brother to greet me with a ' ' Happy
New Year," no stocking ransacked for a Santa Glaus present.
But I was soon aroused from my reverie by the blunt order from
Lieutenant Clark "Feed your horses and rub them off well." So
I returned to a soldier's duties. Took up the line of march early,
passed through Collierville 1 P. M. 4 P. M. met Captain Dillon
and Lieutenant ITood, who told us the Battery was waiting for
us at LaFayette, two miles ahead. We joined them by 5 P. M.
leaving the train of hard-tack to take care of itself. The train
coming up to the station, we watered our horses in the Wolf
River.

Near Germantown, Friday, Jan. 2. To-day we expected to
rest at least and made arrangements accordingly, but as the Com
pany were on their horses to go to water, the orders came to
march at 10 A. M., so we were obliged to water our horses double
quick, and hitched up in all haste. Retraced our track the day
before, arrived at Germantown by sundown, but pushed on six
leaving the train of hard-tack to take care of itself. The train
Went to bed 11 P. M.

Buntyn Station, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 3. Awoke to find
ourselves snugly lying in from two to three inches of water, it
having rained very hard, the water coming in under the tent
while most of the others lay out doors completely soaked.

[24]

1863] IN WINTER CAMP

Hitched and took to the road with the hope that we were to go
to Memphis, nine miles distant. As Quinby's Division was
detailed to guard the railroad, the troops were strung all along.
We went to within five miles of town, then taking a position on
the track with the 48th Indiana at a station called Buntyn Sta
tion, Colonel Alexander as acting brigadier general. Received
stringent orders not to molest anything, rails included. Put up
harness, racks, etc. preparatory for a stay.

Buntyn Station, Sunday, Jan. 4. A busy day for the boys
of the 6th Battery, as they were in expectation of staying in the
place for some time. Harness racks, feed troughs, shebangs,
tables, etc. were put up from lumber carried some forty rods,
where it had been stored with the intention of building. The
tents were floored mostly. S. E. Sweet, Sampson Beaver, E. W.
Evans and myself built a house 6 by 8, 2 ft. high lower end, with
a fireplace in the side. Stood guard. Very pleasant evening.

Buntyn Station, Monday, Jan. 5. Sabres were brightened for
inspection at 2 P. M. Order read from General Hamilton
stating that Van Dorn was concentrating at Pontotoc for an
other raid on this railroad, and ordered that stockades be built
along the road, and that we be on the alert. No parole to be
taken from any cavalry force. The raid to be resisted while
there was a musket and cartridge left. 4 P. M. mail came in,
a sack full, the first for nearly 20 days. Oh! the welcome it
received. Heard from father, brother and four sisters. Wel
come! welcome! indeed. 1st piece planted on the track point
ing south.

Buntyn Station, Tuesday, Jan. 6. Rained in the night.
Rec'd some more mail. Horses inspected by Lieutenants Clark,
Hood and Simpson. Weather fine. Health not quite as good.
Troubled with dumb ague.

Buntyn Station, Wednesday, Jan. 7. A pleasant day but
cold. All of our sabres were turned over. Lieutenant Simpson

[25]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

taking them to Memphis, also all the worthless horses. Our
former orderly, J. G. S. Hay ward, bade us good-bye iu the
morning; left for the North with G. W. Giles and John Camp
bell, all of which had been discharged. Infantry building
breast-works. Van Dorn reported to be at Byhalia. Pickets
doubled. Anticipation of an attack. Slept with our clothes
on. E. P. Dixon, T. J. Hungerford and Mikolay Dziewanowski
sent out as scouts in the night.

Buntyn Station, Thursday, Jan. 8. News reached us of a
glorious victory at Murf reesboro by General Rosecrans. Rec 'd
hay for horses. E. Morrill formerly of Sauk City, now of 23rd
Wisconsin Regiment stayed with us.

Buntyn Station, Friday, Jan. 9. Rather damp and cold.
Infantry still felling trees and fortifying. Paymaster on the
line paying off the troops, giving them two months' wages.
Scouts sent out several times a day. Weather damp. Health
impaired somewhat. Troubled with diarrhea. No news from
Vicksburg.

Buntyn Station, Saturday, Jan. 10. Warm and pleasant.
Orders to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moment's
warning. Went out with Evans to forage. Got some sweet
potatoes from a citizen. Drew soft bread at the quartermas
ter's taken from Memphis. Sad news from Vicksburg. Sher
man's forces withdrawn to Napoleon. Health better. Drilled
on the piece.

Buntyn Station. Sunday, Jan. 11. Warm and rainy. Re
ceived a letter from home dated the 2nd. Went out to exercise
the horses in the morning. Went on the once famous Memphis
race course, passed twice around and returned. Several races.
Those who were present at the August muster, signed the pay
roll to be paid to-morrow, two months' wages.

Buntyn Station, Monday, Jan. 12. The scouts Sunday were
driven back, or rather, hearing the noise of advancing troop-

[26]

1863] A COLD NIGHT

ers, they withdrew, and this morning, 3: 30 A. M. sixteen men,
were mounted and sent out under charge of Sergeant Haux-
hurst. They scoured the country for nine miles south and re
turned without seeing any armed person, but reported that they
had been seen. They returned at about 11 A. M. Men were
detailed to fell trees on the right to protect our flank. Ree'd
four papers from home.

Buntyn Station, Tuesday, Jan. 13. Cloudy and appearance
of rain. The health in general is not very well, several troubled
with ague, etc., supposed to be owing to the water which is very
bad, being taken out of an artificial pond. Stood guard.
Rained very heavy in the night.

Buntyn Station, Wednesday, Jan 14. This morning, while
it was yet dark, Sergeant Hamilton came to our door, calling
upon Evans to harness and hitch up team. I being on guard,
coupled the horses, stood until 8 o'clock, when they were un
hitched and unharnessed. Marched from 2 o'clock. Roll
call. After [marched] to the headquarters of the 48th Indiana
to be paid off, the boys having two months' pay. I received
none. Raining heavy all day. Five months in the service of
Uncle Sam.

Buntyn Station, Thursday, Jan. 15. The rain of the day be
fore has turned into snow during the night, and I awoke to
find the ground all white, my head imbedded in a snow drift.
Looked out to see the 4th Platoon boys crawling out from un
der the snow, their tent having given way under the weight
and rolled aside. It was a little the hardest sight seen during
my campaign, but there was no murmur, all were jovial and
contented. We had to take the horses, who were trembling at
the rack, out to exercise to the race course, against a blinding
storm of snow from the west. In the afternoon it stopped
snowing, leaving about a foot deep on the ground. Many of
the boys gone to Memphis.

[27]

AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

Buntyn Station, Friday, Jan. 16. Clear though cold ruoriv
ing. S. Beaver, S. E. Sweet, E. W. Evans, T. J. Hungerford
and myself, having a permit from Captain, started for Mem
phis at 8 in the morning, going afoot on the railroad. Trav
elled briskly until within two miles of town, when we were
halted by a guard, with orders not to pass any officer or pri
vate of Quinby's Division without a pass signed by officer
commanding, but suggested that we had been in the service
long enough to know how to pass a guard. Taking the hint we
turned back about fifteen rods, then going through the snow
around a field, passed in to town undisturbed. Stayed in town
some four hours, went to the gallery, had my likeness taken.
Spent money. Returned by the evening roll call better off
than most of the boys, as we were able to walk straight as we
had taken no liquor. Considerable tired nevertheless.

Buntyn Station, Saturday, Jan. 17. Was spent in resting
from the tramp to town. Sunny but raw, did not take much
of the snow off. Rebuilt our chimney.

Buntyn Station, Sunday, Jan. 18. Most of the snow made
its disappearance to-day. Cloudy in the afternoon. Health
very good. Anxious for mail. Rec'd none since the 13th.

Buntyn Station, Monday, Jan. 19. Rainy and disagreeable.
Logan's Division passed on the R. R. going towards Memphis.
Rec'd three letters, four newspapers.

Buntyn Station, Tuesday, Jan. 20. Still rainy and muddy.
Orderly Jenawein gone to town. Sergeant Hauxhurst acting.
Health good.

Buntyn Station, Wednesday, Jan. 21. One day without any
rain, which dried up underfoot somewhat. Health excellent.
On guard. No news from below.

Buntyn Station, Thursday, Jan. 22. Sunny and warm. All
quiet in camp. Exercised the horses on the course. Weighed
140 pounds. Read Parson Brownlow's book in the evening.

T281

1863] HOME LETTERS

Buatyn Station, Friday, Jan. 23. Spent the day in darning
stockings. Listened to Brownlow read in tent. But when
night came there was a scene at once ludicrous and deplorable.
Music was started in the 4th Platoon tent ; Parker with Ms fid
dle, BUI Bailey with the banjo, Day's tambourine, Byness with
the bones, and Goodman's clarinet. But Quartermaster had
brought some bottled whiskey into camp and it broke up in n
drunken row. * * * Deplorable, deplorable sight. Rec'd
a letter from Thomas and a Milwaukee Sentinel of the 18th,
mailed on the 20th inst.

Buntyn Station, Saturday, Jan. 24. Rainy and dark all
day. Health good. Battery in general dull from the effects
of last night's carousal.

3.25
2.87
11.50
3.60
3.14

.44
2.14

.56
2.90

Buntyn Station, Sunday, Jan. 25. Sunny in the morning,
but clouded over by afternoon and rained Heavy while out on
exercise : got beautifully wet. Received the N. Y. Tribune from
John, mailed 18th. Letter from Mary, Jen and James (hi?
first letter). May he be permitted to live a useful and intel
ligent life to comfort my aged parents. Prospect of their once
more finding a home in Dodge Hollow, Iowa County. May
they live to see their children once more gathered in the old
homestead.

[29]

Price of army clothing, Oct. 1862.

Hats, naked

$1.68 Sewed boots

Cord and tassel

.15

Pegged boots

Eagle

.14

Overcoat

Cross Cannons

.03

Woolen Blanket .

Jacket

5.55

Lined sack coats .

Trousers .

4.60

Canteen

Woolen shirts

1.46

Knapsack

Woolen drawers .

.95

Haversack, glazed

Stockings

.32

Rubber pouch

AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

Buntyn Station, Monday, Jan. 26. Rain, rain, rain. Turned
cold towards night. Health not very good on account of the
damp. Ague and rheumatism.

Buntyn Station, Tuesday, Jan. 27. Cold this morning.
Came out sunny.

Buntyn Station, Wednesday, Jan. 28. Cold and clear.
Froze hard in the night. Went down to the 59th Indiana
where there was a gallery. Took my likeness for $1.00. Car
riages washed clean for painting.

Buntyn Station, Thursday, Jan. 29. Warm and pleasant.
Stood guard. Health good. No mail.

Buntyn Station, Friday, Jan. 30. 4th Brigade of this Divi
sion passed toward Memphis. Harnessed up in the afternoon
in order to see if the harnesses were in marching order. In
dication of rain.

Buntyn Station, Saturday, Jan. 31. Sunny in the A. M. but
clouded over and there came a heavy spring shower. Rained
nearly all night. Health good.

Buntyn Station, Sunday, Feb. 1. It is Sunday, but hard to
realize it. The same routine is gone through as upon the other
days, the cards shuffled with equal liveliness, the game of ball
with the same noise. And I lay in my tent never realizing that
this is the Sunday that I used to spend at home with such still
ness, when the horses stayed in the stable unhitched, all work
laid aside. Ah, well I remember the first Sunday spent in the
army, how I used to recoil as. I heard the boisterous oaths and
reckless sport of the soldiers as they were returning to their
comrades on that clear Sunday morning from Columbus to Cor
inth. It was just five months ago to-day, and am I really so
much changed? Can it be that I am so much more vicious
and wicked than then, that I heed not the Sabbath? God for-

[30]

1863] SUNDAY IN CAMP

bid. But what does company have to do? Almost everything..
I flatter myself that it is not so very wicked. It cannot be.

In the evening I went to Griffith's "shebang" and listened
to sacred music. It sounded as of old. "I'm a Pilgrim"
"There is a Happy Land" etc. But a soldier is a soldier, and
the "Dixie" and "Gay and Happy" were promiscuously
mixed. Weather warm and sunny. Heard that the 2nd Wis
consin Cavalry were at Memphis.

Buntyn Station, Monday, Feb. 2. Cold, and toward the
evening windy. S. Beaver went down town in search of his
brother wounded at Arkansas Post, but returned without find
ing him. Gone up the river.

Buntyn Station, Tuesday", Feb. 3. Very cold for this lati
tude, having frozen water one-quarter of an inch in thickness.
Detailed to go with the teams down town. Got there by 10
A. M. Loaded four teams with hay, having to take it out of
a barge. Heavy work. After they were loaded, Griffith and
myself went around to do a little business. Meantime . the
teams started, thus obliging us to walk home. Came into camp
by 6 P. M. The 93rd Indiana Volunteers came to the station
by rail and pitched their tents alongside of the 48th.

Buntyn Station, Wednesday, Feb. 4. Cold and clear as a
bell. Exercised our horses for two hours under Sergeant Run-
van. A. Goodman with two others of the 2nd Wisconsin Cav
alry made us a visit, they being encamped within the limits of
the town. Turned warm in the afternoon, and turned into
snow which fell heavy till dark.

Buntyn Station, Thursday, Feb. 5. About three inches of
snow. Quite cold all day. E. W. E. went to town; was called
on to guard S. Sanger for discharging a revolver. Very cold.

Buntyn Station, Friday, Feb. 6. Temperature what they
would call quite sharp, but indicative of a fine day. Most of

[311

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

the snow disappeared during the day. Health excellent.
Spelling school in the evening at Gr. Thomas's shanty.

Buntyn Station, Saturday, Feb. 7. Quite cold in the morn
ing. The frosty air rather keen in our well ventilated house,
but a brisk fire soon made us comfortable. 4th Minnesota In
fantry and the 12th Wisconsin Battery passed by toward Mem
phis. We are to go in the morning.

Memphis, Sunday, Feb. 8. Warm and cloudy day. Re
veille at one hour before daylight. Prepared to march, and
started at 7 A. M., the 48th going on the railroad, and we took
the south road. The roads were very muddy, the frequent
frosts had made them soft, and we had very hard work to get
along with the balky horses that we had. Came into camp at
12 M. about a mile southeast of town on a hill covered with
trees, very handsome. Busy in building racks and "shebangs".
All the lumber under guard.

Memphis, Monday, Feb. 9. Hitched up the team and got a
load of bricks and boards from a burned building one and one-
quarter miles from camp. Weather very sultry, warm, indica
tions of rain. Signed the pay roll for September and October.

Memphis, Tuesday, Feb. 10. A fine spring rain fell nearly
all day, nevertheless we covered our shanty and built our chim
ney.

Memphis, Wednesday, Feb. 11. Warm and sunny. Ball
playing and building shanties the order of the day. We com
pleted ours. It consists of an excavation of one foot, then
walled two feet with rails and logs, and banked; covered with
a double roof, a brick chimney in one end, and door in the
other, with the floor boarded. Such is our house.

Memphis, Thursday, Feb. 12. Slept in a wet bed, our door
being open, a storm coming up of rain, wind and thunder.

[32]

1863] SIGHT SEEING

Health worse than it has been for two months. Diarrhea and
pain in bowels.

Memphis, Friday, Feb. 13. A bright, sunny 4av- Every
thing looked cheerful. Standing gun drill. Milton Campbell,
23rd Regiment, made us a visit from the hospital. Health bet
ter.

Memphis, Saturday, Feb. 14. Six months in the service.
Another rainy day. Signed the pay rolls again, the first ones
being objectionable and returned.

Memphis, Sunday, Feb. 15. Warm and pleasant. Health
good. Two horses and three mules stolen last night. Guards
doubled.

Memphis, Monday, Feb. 16. Was called on guard last night,
second relief. While on the last relief, the sounds of the drum
and bugle were heard upon all sides. A foraging expedition
to be sent out, one section of the 12th Wisconsin to accompany,
but when the bugle sounded most of the men refused to fall
in, as there were some sixty of the recruits of last August,
these having been by neglect not mustered in the U. S. service,
hence a remonstrance was sent to General Quinby. Meantime
the men refused to do duty.

After watering horses, G. Thomas, E. W. Evans and myself
visited the Elmwood cemetery half a mile distant. It contains
forty acres and is certainly a beautiful "City of the Dead",
handsomely divided off by evergreen shrubbery, with the spa
cious vaults of solid marble. From the white obelisk to the
little lambs at the heads of once sparkling innocent babes, all
was beautiful. But on one side were four hands busily piling
up the rounded graves in close compact. They held the bodies
of the unfortunate soldiers, averaging twelve a day. On the
other side were the like victims of the Confederate States of
America.

33]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Memphis, Tuesday, Feb. 17. Wet and cloudy. A dismal
and dreary day for me. Kept inside nearly all day. Burnt
up all my letters which by this time had accumulated, so as
to encroach too much on the room of my crowded valise. It
was a difficult task. They seemed to be a connecting link be
tween me and the dear ones. I read the anxious words over,
and then with a sigh consigned them to the flames. Burnt up
17 of T. L.'s, 18 of J. L.'s, 11 of M. L.'s and 15 from Albion.

Memphis, Wednesday, Feb. 18. Raw and windy. Health
not very good.

Memphis, Thursday, Feb. 19. "Warm and dry, though
windy. Suffering with a very bad cold. Captain Dillon read
an order from J. B. McPherson, commanding 17th Army Corps,
relative to going to Vicksburg. Patriotism raised the spirit of
the boys fifty per cent. Played ball in the afternoon.

Memphis, Friday, Feb. 20. Health better but very sore
throat. Beautiful day.

Memphis, Saturday, Feb. 21. Rain and thunder all day.
Health not very good. Sore throat.

Memphis, Sunday, Feb. 22. Cold. Froze the mud in the
morning. Excused from duty, being on the sick list. Cold.

Memphis, Monday, Feb. 23. Very pleasant. Health little
better. The long looked for "to-morrow" at last arrived and
the paymaster paid us off. Rec'd $13.80. $20.00 sent per al
lotment, being up to Oct. 31, 1862.

Memphis, Tuesday, Feb. 24. Very pleasant spring day.
Boys busy settling their accounts. Captain H. Dillon started
home on a furlough. Lieutenant Simpson also went with a dis
charge.

Memphis, Wednesday, Feb. 25. Rained in torrents all last
night and to-day, with thunder and lightning. Health better.
No mail from above since Saturday.

[34]

1863] EMBARKING ON THE TRANSPORTS

Memphis, Thursday, Feb. 26. Cleared off a little but driz
zled part of the day. Received a needle case from home, a lov
ing tribute from sister Mary. No mail down the river.

Memphis, Friday, Feb. 27. Pleasant day. Oiled our har
ness in the afternoon. Troubled with diarrhea severely. Ree'd
a letter from home, they being in great anxiety about me, as
my letters did not arrive at their destination. Poor mother.
I have thought much of you since reading it, and may I spare
no pains keeping you easy, is my prayer.

Memphis, Saturday, Feb. 28. The last of February, conse
quently mustered for pay at 9 A. M. by Lieutenant S. F. Clark.
Then opened ranks and inspected by Lieutenants Clark, Hood
and Simpson, the latter being reinstated. Ordered to prepare
for an inspection to-morrow.

Up and Down the Mississippi and Yazoo

Memphis, Sunday, March 1. To-day we were ordered to pre
pare for an inspection by Major Maurice, chief of artillery,
but instead of that came marching. We broke up camp at 9
A. M. and marched with the whole of Quinby's Division into
Memphis. There was a busy scene. Infantry and artillery and
baggage and wagons, all in a rush embarking on the transports.
6th and 12th Wisconsin Batteries were ordered on the "Robert
Campbell Jr." but we could not get out on first Section, it be
ing too crowded. The 2nd and 3rd Sections with the battery
and forage wagons were pushed in front of the "Teeumseh"
and there guarded for the night.

Memphis, Monday, March 2. Cloudy in the morning but
cleared off sunny. Failed to get the carriages on in the fore
noon. After dinner four men of each platoon were left to load
the pieces, while the boat dropped down to load with coal.

[35]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Felt rather weak; troubled with diarrhea which had rendered
me rather weak. Got forage on board for horses.

On the Mississippi, Tuesday, March 3. Raw and cold on the
boat. Laid at the wharf all the forenoon, waiting for the
word. 2 P. M. the fleet "tied loose" and headed down stream,
the "Campbell" being fourth in the procession. It was an
interesting spectacle, fourteen boats all laden with troops and
munition and ammunition of war, leaving the clayey bluffs of
Memphis on one side, and the blackened ruins of Hopefield
on the other to plan the final destruction of all that harbour
the enemys of our country. But notwithstanding, it was a sad
thought to me as I looked to the distant North, where there are
anxious hearts for me, and I was still going farther, and I
may never again return. The river was very high, nothing but
water in sight, the willows putting on their garb of green. The
"Campbell" soon took the lead and arrived at Helena by 9
P. M. ninety miles distant. Tied up till 2 :30 A. M.

Grand Lake Landing, Ark., Wednesday, March 4. When we
again started, the air was very raw and cold. Hailed at the
mouth of White River by a gunboat and we had to come to and
report at 9 A. M. Passed Napoleon at 11 A. M. which was
nearly inundated. In the afternoon a race took place between
the "Campbell" and the "Louisiana" which came up, and after
about half an hour took the lead. 5 P. M. the fleet landed at
Grand Lake Landing, eighteen miles above Providence. We
immediately commenced unloading; got everything off except
the horses. They were harnessed, but were again unharnessed.
Slept on the boat.

Grand Lake Landing, Thursday, March 5. Up early; got
the horses; then got the carriages off the "Tecumseh" which
was rather tough work. Came into park right by the levee and
stretched our picket rope and put up the tarpaulin. Very wet
all around. On guard. Health very good.

[36]

1863] RACING ON THE MISSISSIPPI

Grand Lake Landing, Friday, March 6. Cloudy and windy.
General Quinby went down on the "Superior" to Providence,
returned in the evening. In the afternoon David Evans and
myself went down stream on the levee, bareback about three
miles, where the engineers were at work digging out the levee.
Took a drink in Louisiana and returned to camp with no better
impression of the sunny South.

On the Mississippi, Saturday, March 7. Ordered to reimbark
at early dawn. Arose at 4 o'clock but did not get loaded till
in the afternoon on the same boats as before. Severe rain
storm and wind last night. Very muddy. Part of the day
the sun shone very bright. Health good. 2 : 30 P. M. the fleet
once more "swung loose" and headed up stream. The "Camp
bell" was aground, so had to be towed out by the "Gladiator'7
and "John H. Dickey"; after she got afloat we lashed to the
former to get some coal. As night advanced we kept slowly
going, and by night were the fourth in line.

On the Mississippi, Sunday, March 8. The boat had been
steadily plowing her way up the turbid water of the Missis
sippi. Rained very heavy, got a wet bed to sleep on. Very
foggy all day; passed the "Von Phal", being next to the flag
ship "Superior". Passed the Yazoo Pass, 2. P. M.

4 P. M.— We have landed on the Arkansas side three mile*
below Helena, where the troops were ordered ashore to cook
and for recreation. The flag ship went up to Helena, and re~
turned with a good quantity of mail.

On the Mississippi, Monday, March 9. Went up to Helena
after coal, took on board 400 boxes; while there the boys were
busy in buying a supply of soft bread and other rarities.
Many of the boys found acquaintances in the 29th Wisconsin
Infantry and the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry which were encamped
General Quinby went down on the "Pocahontas" in the after
noon to Yazoo Pass.

[37]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

On the Mississippi, Tuesday, March 10. Arose with but
poor rest, it having rained all night, and lying on deck with
the tarpaulin but poorly arranged. Got very wet. Rained
steadily all day. Amused myself best I could reading what I
could in the crowded cabin filled with the tobacco fumes, and
boisterous with card players. 4 P. M. mail arrived. Rec'd
a letter from J. L. and T. L. and three papers. All well
Brother James lame by accident, poor fellow, but thanks to
kind Providence, he is under the nursing of a devoted mother
and tender sisters. Priceless boon.

Near Helena, Ark., Wednesday, March 11. Sunny and fine
weather. Instead of moving came the order to disembark, and
by noon the whole of Quinby's Division was on the sand bar
of about two acres in one solid mass. It was with difficulty
that we got our battery in position and tarpaulin put up.

Near Helena, Thursday, March 12. Fine weather. Washed
my clothes in the forenoon. In the afternoon joined in the
funeral procession of a member of Co. G., 72nd Illinois. Laid
him in the swamp and left him in the cheerless spot, a soldier's
grave. Many of the boys in spite of high water, went out for
aging and brought in fresh pork and beef in plenty.

Near Helena, Friday, March 13. Health good. Fine weather.
Drew thirty days' forage for horses, per order. 1st Brigade
embarking, loading in the night. Stood guard.

Near Helena, Saturday, March 14. Health not very good.
Seven months ago I enlisted in the service of the U. S. Then
I hoped that by this time a different phase of the matter could
be seen. But alas, it very dark ahead, yet I do not despond,
neither have I regretted my enlistment. I can only do the best
I can, and be satisfied. A hard tug is before me. May God
grant me health and courage to do my duty.

Near Helena, Sunday, March 15. Warm day. Ross's 8th
Division landed a little below from Memphis. 1st Brigade and

[38]

1863] ATLANTIC MONTHLY IN CAMP

2nd Battery left for the Pass yesterday. Received papers of
the 13th — Bulletin [Memphis],

Near Helena, Monday, March 16. A fine spring day. Still
troubled with diarrhea. All monotonous in camp. Spent most
of the day patching. Vaccinated by George Fisher, hospital
steward.

Near Helena, Tuesday, March 17. Very warm, a forerunner
of the burning heat to come. Mail arrived. Heard from home.
Oh ! welcome letters.

Near Helena, Wednesday, March 18. Very warm. Pelt a
little better. Nothing very interesting.

Near Helena, Thursday, March 19. Exercised and washed
my horses. Health in camp poor. Eighteen on the sick list.

Near Helena, Friday, March 20. The marine fleet of Colonel
Ellet passed down the river, consisting of the '"Autocrat",
" Diana". ik Baltic", "Alone", and the "E. H. Fairchild" with
iron-clad ram. Boats gathering; expecting to embark soon,
llth Wisconsin Infantry landed below here.

Near Helena, Saturday, March 21. Sergeant Ilauxhurst, C.
Campbell and Shockley sent North to the hospital. Capt. H.
Dillon arrived in the evening, bringing many presents to the'
boys. I received a pair of stockings knit by my dear mother,
and the Atlantic Monthly of June 2. Rec'd mail in the night.

Near Helena, Sunday, March 22. Cloudy and indications of
rain. Infantry embarked. Ordered to be ready to go on at
12 M. but the boats did not come. Drizzled rain nearly all
day. Health none the best. Diarrhea very bad. Water rising
very fast.

On Moon Lake, Monday, March 23. Reveille at 4 A. M.
At dawn we commenced embarking, the left Section under Lieu
tenant Hood on the "Armada," center Section under Simpson

[39]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

on the ''Jesse K. Bell." First piece on the "White Rose."
Second piece on the "Rose Hamilton." Rained heavy all day.
2 P. M. we swung off, I being on the "Jesse Bell." Laid off
till 4 P. M. when we entered the Pass, the fourth boat of the
fleet. At the mouth it was about five rods wide. The water
shot through at a wild rate. The wheel was reversed to check
the speed of the boat. On we went, through the woods and
short turns until we reached Moon Lake, where it widened.
The Lake is about three miles long, half a mile wide, where we
had smooth sailing until dark, when we tied up near an old
negro hut. On the north side a squad of cavalry en
camped close by. A member of the 93rd Illinois (which is on
board with us) was buried near the shore. Made our bed un
der the wheels of the pieces, the boat being so crowded: had
but poor rest. Slept as close as "three in the bed and two in
the middle."

On Yazoo Pass, Tuesday, March 24. Started at 7 A. M.
and kept moving slowly all day from one tree to the other,
backing up nearly as often as going ahead, often being obliged
to tie in order to give room for those ahead. A limb broke
down our left smokestack close to the hurricane decking not
withstanding they were cut off nearly to the half before start
ing. Jack-staff broke twice. All the light-work of the pilot
house brushed off.

5 P. M. passed the foundered boat "Jenny Lind" sunk over
the first deck. She ran on shore and all the goods saved.
There were a few soldiers belonging to the 43rd Indiana with
her.

6 P. M. ran afoul, so that we were obliged to tie up for the
night in sight of another wreck a few rods ahead. People may
read of this Pass in time to come, but they will never know
what it is until they see it.

On Yazoo Pass, Wednesday, March 25. Awakened by the bell
which indicated that we were about to start. Curiosity soon

[40]

1863] ON THE YAZOO

found me on deck after a good night's sleep. A beautiful morn
ing. The "Steam Nigger" was set to work trying to extricate
us, and after an hour's tug we swung loose. Passed the wreck
of "Luella" a small screw propeller. She was nearly all un
der water. Barrels and boxes of commissary stores all around,
floating.

9 A. M. passed a plantation with inhabitants, the first seen
since we started. A neat log house and spring in door-yard
reminded me of the home of my childhood

"How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond recollections present them to view."

Evening. Saw considerable dry land to-day on the right.
Passed some plantations, apparently wealthy. Colonel Putnam
sent a detail out in the yawl at 3 P. M. Brought in seven
sheep, also in the evening brought in a good beef. Gave a piece
to the Battery boys. Tied up near the plantation of the rebel
General Elkhorn who had been paroled. Only twelve miles
from Helena by road yet. Six to Coldwater. Heavy picket
thrown out.

On Yazoo Pass, Thursday, March 26. A fine day. Health
poor. Nausea and diarrhea very bad. Advanced very slowly
to-day, the current being swifter than before, so that we are
just tossed from tree to tree. Obliged to use the capstan con
tinually. A limb took off one of the escape pipes, another en
tered the cook room on the second floor. It is with great
trouble the men can save themselves from falling limbs. One
fell on two boys which came very near proving serious. Passed
at 2 P. M. by the "Hamilton Belle", dispatch boat.

On the Coldwater, Friday, March 27. Started early on our
tedious journey, being only four miles from where we
stopped night before. Passed by the packet "Wenona," had
some mail aboard, could not get it. Health still very bad,
diarrhea, poor appetite. Got some biscuit (light) from the
cook, but could not eat much. Could I but get a good draught

[41]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1863

of milk and good graham bread of Sister Mary, methinks I
would soon feel well. Better for my case than the opium pills,
which is all the doctor would give me. Felt rather homesick.
Cloudy, some rain. Entered Coldwater at 3 P. M. Little bet
ter scenery.

On the Coldwater, Saturday, March 28. Met six boats from
below. Report General Quinby's headquarters 190 miles at
the mouth of Tallahatchie. Boats badly seamed.

On the Coldwater, Sunday, March 29. Cold, disagreeable.
Sleet and rain part of the time. Health much better. Tied up
near shore. Got our horses off across the ''White Rose"; gave
them good exercise. Stretched a picket, left them for the
night. A solitary tent with two cases of small-pox was to be
seen, left by the Louisiana fleet. Wrote home.

On the Yazoo, Monday, March 30. Awakened by one of the
boys telling that the boats had started and left my team ashore,
with five others, and the Lieut., Runyan, Dixon and Ed Hayes.
The boat was anxious to lead out, hence the haste. 10 A. M.
obliged to tie up and repair. A limb disabled the wheel.
Passed by the rest of the fleet. 5 P. M. entered the Tallahatchie,
Gunboat No. 5 lying at the mouth. Got my letter on the
"Alone". Tied up near a saw mill, which was soon in a blaze.
Rain and some snow. Strange.

On the Yazoo, Tuesday, March 31. Fair day. Started early
but advanced very slowly, doing much damage to the boat, not
withstanding the stream being better. Very unskillful man
agement. Broke the engines 3 P. M. Had to stop for repairs,
where we laid till next morning. Got our guns in position for
action. Music and dancing in the evening on the "forecastle".
Man died in the cabin.

On the Yazoo, Wednesday, April 1. Made good headway to
day with but little stoppage. 12 M. landed to take on those

[42]

1863] BURNING PROPERTY

left behind and some forage left by the fleet, which had left
about two hours before. Buried the corpse and started on.
Passed some beautiful plantations with plenty of hogs and cat
tle which naturally made our mouths water.
"Pike" at sundown, in a sinking condition. Foraging parties
brought in fresh meat in plenty. After tying up, cannonading
heard at night. Had a slight attack of ague.

On the Yazoo, Thursday, April 2. Very fine. Good country
ana line sailing. 12 M. a miscreant fired into the boat and
wounded a member of the 93rd severely, the ball entering his
left breast. The boat rounded to and tied up, and in an in
stant the whole regiment was in confusion, running for their
arms, etc., etc. Skirmishers were sent out, while Colonel Put
nam went with a force in a yawl in search, but returned in an
hour; failed to find him, but brought along the man of the
house that harbored him as prisoner, after reducing his house
to ashes. Nearly all the boats were fired into in a similar man
ner.

5 P. M. came up to the boats and tied up for the night,
staging run out and the horses taken off and exercised. It was
at a large plantation of several hundred acres. I rode the
Lieutenant's horse. Foraging parties out in all directions,
and chickens, hogs, beef, onions etc. poured in. Several negro
villages were set on fire, also the cotton gins, corn-cribs, within
reach. The whole air was bright at night with the fire.

On the Yazoo, Friday, April 3. Fine day. Arrived at the
headquarters by 11 A. M. Disembarked, came into camp by
night in an open field. 0. Eillinstine drowned. Body not
found. Two and one half miles from Fort Greenwood which
is occupied by rebel forces.

On the Yazoo, Saturday, April 4. Fine day. Boys busy
bathing, washing, changing etc. in general, which was very nec
essary after thirteen days confinement. 10 A. M. crossed the

F431

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

river to the 28th Wisconsin Regiment, Ross's Division. Found
an old acquaintance John Williams of Ixonia. First Section
went to the front in view of the fort, threw in a few shells and
returned. 7 P. M. ordered to harness up as soon as possible
with no unnecessary noise, which was soon done, and in half
an hour the center Section, much to their dissatisfaction, were
reloading on the "Jesse K. Bell." All loaded by midnight, and
each one shifted the best he could for a short rest. Evie rather
unwell.

On the Yazoo, Sunday, April 5. Although late, arose very
sleepy to feed my team. 7 A. M. we started up stream with
the rest of the fleet in their proper places. The day was beau^
tiful and we travelled very fast, guns all ready for action. I
enjoyed the scenery much, the air so soft and balmy, all nature
seemed to be at rest. The darkies on shore in their Sunday
suits met us with waving of rags and hats under their arms,
and once in a while a timid woman also, more from policy than
principle I suppose. 1 A. M. another shot was given us near
the same place as before, which was promptly returned by half
the regiment. Most shot at random to show their good- will.
No one hurt on board. The ball passed near the pilot house.
5 P. M. tied up to take on fuel from the fence. Went ashore to
cook.

On the Yazoo, Monday, April 6. Started early and troubled
with but little hindrance, made good headway. Tied up at
night near a pretty mansion with an air of luxury. As the
boat struck shore a rush was made for land, and they made for
the door-yard, but they were halted by the Colonel who put a
guard to prevent their coming in, and put the anxious ones to
work carrying rails. Health good.

On the Coldwater, Tuesday, April 7. Warm and pleasant.
Entered mouth of Coldwater 8 A. M. Travelled well till to
wards evening. The channel grew more crooked and difficult.

[44]

1863] CLEANING UP

4 P. M. landed to take on rails, then went on. Tied up in a
low swampy cane-brake. Water much lower than when de
scending. An occasional darky to be seen with mule and plow
at work in the field, but in most cases the darky had "hung up
the shovel and the hoe." Music and dancing in the evening.
Washed.

P. S. I write this at the still hour of midnight, all is quiet
and their minds far away from here in the happy land of
dreams. No sound save the tiresome tramp of the poor pent-up
brutes which have not laid down since we embarked. Whaft a
time for thought. Two hours yet of guard.

On Yazoo Pass, Wednesday, April 8. Entered the Pass 7 A. M.
Passed the wreck "Luella" 4 P. M., the "Jenny Lind" having
been removed. Landed at 3 P. M. at Reb. General Elkhorn's
for rails. Mosquitoes made their appearance in the evening.

On Moon Lake, Thursday, April 9. Warm day. Entered
Moon Lake 7 A. M. and at 9 A. M. we were once more landed
on the sand bar from whence we started 18 days ago. Accom
plished nothing. What and where next? "Armada" and
"White Rose" are- the only boats here beside our own. All
the horsemen came ashore in order to clean up.

Near Helena, Friday, April 10. Received a large mail. Boats
all came from the Pass, the two iron-clads bringing up the rear.
The boats went up to Helena to take on coal, nearly all of
them. Health good. G. R. Jones quite sick. Sat up with him
part of the evening, an attack of pleurisy.

Near Helena, Saturday, April 11. All busy in writing home
and to those left behind. Although we may be tanned and
roughened by hardships and exposures, the memories of those
behind are still uppermost, and although otherwise hardened,
that is untarnished. R-eloaded all the horses, etc. Rainy.

Near Helena, Sunday, April 12. A fine day. Expected to
leave, but instead we took our horses off. Troops going down

[45]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

the river nearly all day, about twenty transports loaded. Took
a ride in the afternoon, enjoyed it much, though all alone.
On guard in the night. Quite cold.

On the Mississippi, Monday, April 13. Got all on board once
more and at 12 A. M. started up to Helena, unloaded the cotton
taken in the Pass, and returned to find the boats all gone ex
cept the "Tempest" (commissary boat) and at about 3 P.
we started down the river. Detained most of the night in ex
tricating the "Duke of Argyle."

Providence, La., Tuesday, April 14. Cold and rainy all day.
making it rather disagreeable. Spent the day in our quarters
over the horses. Read the Covenant, mused and slept most of
the day. At about 9 P. M. we neared what appeared like a city
with its hundreds of lamps, but proved to be Providence with
the lighted steamboats tied close.

Millikens Bend, La., Wednesday, April 15. A warm pleasant
day. Awoke to get hay from a barge, then strolled around to
see Providence, which was a neat village with several fine
buildings, but most of the main part of the town is inundated
by the pass cut through the levee, connecting the river to Lake
Providence, about 80 rods long. And where used to be the street.
now is the bed .of a rushing torrent. Found the 6th Division
(Me Arthur 's") encamped here. McPherson's headquarters also
here. Took on 600 boxes of coal and at 2 : 30 P. M. started on
our way down the river, being the last of the fleet. Wrote a
hurried letter home. 5 P. M. we arrived at Millikens Bend.
the shore lined with steamboats, the troops embarking as fa«t
as possible. Got a part of our battery off.

Millikens Bend, Thursday, April 16. As soon as practical
brought into park behind the levee in an open field ; very pretty
grounds but no trees, and before noon the field was covered
with the tents of Quinby's Division. Signed the payroll in the
afternoon. Met Charley Finn and Wm. Jones of the 23rd. who

[46]

1863] CONTRABANDS

were left in the convalescent camp ; the Regiment gone to Rich
mond, La., three days. All the mule teams of the Division or
dered to take provisions and ammunition to them. Weather
very fine. Troubled with toothache very much. Health other
wise good.

Millikens Bend, Friday, April 17. Were ordered to prepare
for general inspection at 9 A. M. Got off from guard in time to
mount my team. Formed three lines on the plain in front, viz :
1st line, 3rd Brigade ; 2nd line, 3 batteries of artillery ; 3rd line,
1st Brigade. (2nd Brigade not yet arrived from above). Were
inspected by Adjutant General Thomas of Washington and
Colonel Sanborn (commanding Division in sickness of Quinby)
and staff. After inspection the troops were brought in a solid
square when General Thomas was introduced by General Grant,
and spoke of the policy of the administration in regard to the
contrabands, which was received with cheers; followed by Colo
nel Sanborn and lieutenant colonel of the 72nd Volunteers.

Went to the convalescent camp of the 23rd, found Hugh
Hughes very low in body and mind. Returned just in time to
receive my pay up to the first of March, $13.00 here, $40.00
per allotment. Heard soon the tremendous roar of artillery.
Heard last night seven gunboats and two or three transports
run the blockade at Vicksburg, burning one transport. Hospital
cleared off as fast as possible, expecting to get some wounded
in soon. Great activity all around. 2nd Brigade arrived at
night.

Millikens Bend, Saturday, April 18. Cloudy — indications of
rain. Boys busy expressing their money home, paying debty
and some investing in chuck-luck. Had battery drill in the
afternoon of two hours.

Millikens Bend, Sunday, April 19. Had severe storm of
wind and rain last night, which gave us a wet bed. Had special
muster at 9 A. M. Detailed to go after rations in the tempest,
Exercised horses in the afternoon.

[47]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY uses

Millikens Bend, Monday, April 20. Drill two hours in the
forenoon. Got sick and went to the tent before finishing. Nausea
and vomiting. Very warm.

Millikens Bend, Tuesday, April 21. Fine day. Six trans
ports preparing to run the blockade at Vicksburg. Volunteers
called for from this Division to move them. Many anxious to
go. Quite an excitement. Received mail.

Millikens Bend, Wednesday, April 22. Heavy rain all night,
making it very muddy to drill. Standing gun drill in the
afternoon. 4th Brigade of 3rd Division inspected on the drill
ground and addressed by Governor Yates of Illinois, inspiring
and encouraging.

Millikens Bend, Thursday, April 23. Very warm. Ordered
to prepare for park inspection at 8 A. M. Stood waiting until
9, when we went out to drill. No inspection. Standing gun
drill P. M. llth Ohio Battery and 1st Missouri left to-day.
Boats ran the blockade last night.

Millikens Bend, Friday, April 24. Very warm. Drill in
morning and afternoon. Sergt. J. B. Jackson and P. Walport,
heroes of Corinth, returned to the Battery. Preparations to
leave to-morrow.

Encircling Vicksburg

Richmond, La., Saturday, April 25. Awoke early and at 6
A. M. we filed off after the 5th [Iowa]. Travelled up the levee
about two miles, then turned to the west and passed through
level country. Very pretty, the roads lined with growing
hedges of creeping roses, etc. which were in full bloom, filling
the air with their fragrance. And the flower gardens were
truly beautiful, notwithstanding their former admirers were en
gaged in a far different object.

After travelling about five miles we entered a heavy timber,

[48]

1863] A NIGHT MARCH

the road running beside a bayou, through which we continued
except when in cleared openings all day. The day was exces
sively warm, equal to a harvest time in Wisconsin. The men
were all soft after nearly two months' packing on the boat,
and notwithstanding they were often rested, the infantry fell
back very many. At about 2 P. M. we crossed the bayou
(which is very deep) on a pontoon of pine boards, and came
into camp at Richmond, having come twelve miles. Many of
the footsore and weary did not arrive until late. On guard. I
need all the rest possible for to-morrow, but no grumbling, do
the best I can.

Near Richmond, Sunday, April 26. The Battery were awake
at 2 A. M., while I was on post, having had but four short
hours of sleep. The horses were harnessed immediately and
we started at about 3 : 30 which gave us a good start before
sunrise. Not quite as warm as yesterday. Marched through
apparently very old country and productive. 11 A. M. went
into park at Holmes 's Plantation, eight miles from Richmond.
Unharnessed. Put up the tarpaulins. Got some fresh meat and
water. At 1 o'clock the order came to be ready to march at
4 P. M. Logan's Division marched by. Marched until sun
down when we went to park at another plantation just in time
to prepare for a: storm. Rained heavily all night. Heavy fir
ing heard in the night via Vicksburg.

Near Richmond, Monday, April 27. Started out at 6 A. M.
went about twenty rods, when General Logan rode up and by
some means induced the officer to turn back; we unharnessed
and turned our horses out to grass. Heavy rain came up and
continued. Very disagreeable all day. No shelter. The day
seemed very, very long, but night at last came to relieve us,
and we went to bed in negro shanties.

^ Near Richmond, Tuesday, April 28. Took up the march at
6 A. M. The rain of almost twenty-four hours had rendered

4 [49]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

it muddy beyond description. We had seen deeper mud in
Mississippi last fall, but none so hard as this to travel ; the soil
being of a bluish clay, was made into wax, the wheels clogging
so as to hide all traces of spoke or felloe. The 2nd piece wheel
was locked by the mud and slid along. Slowly we worked
our way on, often straining our horses to their utmost. Am
bulances, wagons, etc. stuck all along. Rested one hour and
watered horses at 1.1 A. M. Came into park at 2 P. M. on
rebel General Fisk's ground, who was killed at Murfreesboro.
Unhitched and swam horses to wash them, and fed them freely
on rebel corn, having made about four miles. Supped on fresh
beef and hard-tack, and laid down in the open air.

Near Richmond, Wednesday, April 29. Awakened at 2
A. M. with orders to march before daylight. Everything ready
accordingly, but did not start until an hour after sunrise.
Crossed the bayou about two miles from where we started on
a rude pontoon built across a barge. Marched through a thick
wooded bottom three miles, then recrossed the bayou on a sim
ilar bridge. Open country once more. Encamped early within
two miles of where we crossed the river. Teams sent back af
ter forage and rations. Very tired. Gnats very bad.

Near Grand Gulf, Miss., Thursday, April 30. Bugle sounded
in broad daylight, which led the boys to conclude that we were
not to leave early, so they lay quiet, but were soon aroused by
Captain Dillon coming in and telling us to hurry up, we would
have to be on the road in less than forty minutes; and in three
minutes we were all in ranks to the sound of the bugle. Or
dered to have three days' rations in haversacks and prepare
to fight. Hitched up. Mustered for pay in the saddle and
then started out. Passed two steamboats where they used to
take on troops, but we marched on about thirteen miles and en
camped within hearing of the guns of Grand Gulf. Four
miles off, heavy firing all the afternoon. Our gunboats at
tacked them silencing all their guns except three which they

[50]

1863] GOOD FOOD AND FIGHTING

were obliged to leave. Such is the report. Travelled through
beautiful country which was all in full growth. Corn three
feet high. Blackberries and strawberries ripe. Peaches as
large as a plum. Looking like a July day in Wisconsin.

Near Grand Gulf, Friday, May 1. Awoke early to be soon
on the march; travelled down the levee four miles, when we
embarked on the "Silverwave" at Hard Times Landing. Seven
gunboats and four transports crossing troops as fast as possible
in sight of the bastions of Grand Gulf. Landed two miles be
low, and by 11 A. M. were on the march toward Port Gibson.
The flat of Louisiana was relieved by the broken surface of
Mississippi. Steep hills, and obliged to lock [the gun wheels]
often. Marched very fast, only one mule team along. Heard
firing all the afternoon in the advance. Encamped at sundown
after travelling twelve miles. Mississippi furnished plenty of
sweet potatoes, fresh pork, chickens, etc. All tired. "Went to
bed early.

Near Port Gibson, Miss., Saturday, May 2. Awoke at 2
A. M. In the saddle at 3 : 30, and moved on. By sunrise we were
on the ground of yesterday's action. They met the enemy and
drove them for five miles, disputing every inch. Captured
many prisoners and took one battery. The dead were yet un-
buried in many instances, one lay on the roadside with the up
per part of his head taken off by a cannon ball. Many were
wounded, as they took the advantage of the unevenness of the
country to attack us by surprise. Passed the 1st Wisconsin
Battery, which had done good execution the day before. Fi
nally we passed the brush hospitals along the road and marched
unmolested to Port Gibson. Enemy left two bridges burned
behind them.

Unhitched, watered and fed. Rested ourselves about two
hours, when we again started, crossed the stream over which
was a chain bridge, crossed on a rough pontoon of slabs which

[51]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

nearly sank under water under the artillery. General Grant,
careworn and nearly covered with dust, sat on the bank watch
ing the progress of his advancing army. Marched through at
double quick until very late, when the infantry laid down in
the road, and we turned to the right in the field for three
hours' and a half sleep, out of which we had to feed, water, etc.
Laid down without any supper and slept. Oh how sweet, but
very short. Nine miles from Port Gibson.

Near Black River, Sunday, May 3. Arose at 2 A. M. and
as soon as practicable hitched up with one day's shelled corn
in our bags. Did not leave until sunrise. Crossed a small
stream on a chain-suspended bridge which the rebs had set afire,
but was saved. Our way was disputed about a mile on by
a rebel battery which threw shells at the advance, which formed
line and moved on. At 10 A. M. the skirmishers were hotly
engaged and sent back for a howitzer. The third (with which
I was connected) piece moved out on a trot, took a position
by direction of Colonel Powell within 200 yards of their sharp
shooters, who were firing briskly in a thick wood. Opened on
them with canister, which soon had the desired effect of "dry
ing them up there." Advanced to the left a few rods and
opened fire on a log house where the sharpshooters were work
ing. Threw three shells, then retired to await orders, having
shot ten rounds in all, four spherical case, three canister, three
percussion shells. The litter-bearers report a rebel captain
killed in front of the piece by canister cutting him nearly in
two. In the meantime the 1st and 5th pieces took position on
the right to prevent three pieces of artillery from taking posi
tion. Advanced about two miles when their pieces opened fire
with shells on us. The howitzers went forward but were or
dered back by Chief of Artillery, and two ten-pound Parrotts
instead. A brisk firing on both sides for ten or fifteen min
utes. The 1st Brigade in line on right, 2nd on left, when they
pulled up stake and we marched without molestation within a

[52]

1863] EARTHWORKS

mile of Black Biver; went into park. All very tired and
needed rest. Passed about seventy-five prisoners during the
day, many more being taken by Logan 011 the left. Pickets
firing often during the night, once with artillery.

Near Black River, Monday, May 4. Harnessed and hitched,
but soon received orders to unhitch and get fodder enough to
feed all day. Firing with artillery across the river occasion
ally during the day. Earthworks thrown up on this side of
the bayou, the rebels being on a neck of land between that and
the Black River, said to have received reinforcement.

Near Black River, Tuesday, May 5. A fine day. Health
good. Lay quiet all the morning until 2 P. M. Orders came
to hitch up a howitzer and a rifle piece; first and third pieeses
made ready and fell in with 5th and 10th Iowa Infantry and
four companies of cavalry on a reconnoitering expedition. Col
onel Boomer in charge. Waited three quarters of an hour at
the river to finish the bridge, when the cavalry crossed and
started on, the bridge consisting of three flat-boats tied to
gether endways, which reached across. Passed through a half
mile of very swampy bottom, then came into an open country
with fine plantations. Marched briskly on the road to Vicks-
burg, about four miles, then rested. General McPherson passed
to the front and returned in about an hour, ordering us to re
trace our steps as soon as possible as there was much need
of us there and the roads were bad. Returned on full trot and
came into camp a Httle after dark.

Near Black River, Wednesday, May 6. Remained quiet.
Foraging parties sent out bringing plenty of corn, fresh meat
and many other things, taken from the deserted houses of flee
ing chivalry. Mail arrived. Rec'd two letters from home
dated 18th and 26th ult. Pontoon train of eighteen wagons
passed to the right.

[53]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Near Black River, Thursday, May 7. 1st Brigade and Bat
tery M. relieved General Logan's on the river. His Division
marched to the right, moved across the road into the shade.

Near Black River, Friday, May 8. Although in the land of
cotton and alligators, awoke after a cold night's rest under
three blankets. The nights very cold and chilly. The days
in the other extreme. Assistant Quartermaster Hamilton ar
rived with the baggage wagons and forge. Cloudy, indicative
of rain. Steele's Division came in the afternoon and relieved
the 1st Brigade at the river. General Steele's headquarters
on the opposite side of the road from here. His troops were
old and tried veterans of Missouri, Iowa, and Ohio.

Near Rocky Spring, Miss., Saturday, May 9. Reveille called
us to receive orders to march at sunrise, which took but little
time. Took the road leading to the right, travelled through a
rough, broken, yellow clay ; very hilly roads, many of the hills
covered with crabby pines. Very dusty and warm ; passed
through Rocky Spring at 10 A. M. which consisted of a store
and ware-house buildings. Came into camp at 3 P. M. in a
poorly cultivated country. Plenty of fresh mutton, turkeys,
chickens, etc. brought in by forage forthwith.

Near Raymond, Miss., Sunday, May 10. Awoke, harnessed
and fed horses at 3 o'clock A. M. 7 A. M. unharnessed and
grazed our horses for an hour. Lay in the shade until noon,
when we hurriedly harnessed, leaving our dinner half cooked,
and marched over very dusty and sultry roads. Poor country,
covered with pine poles. Halted at Utica two hours and wat
ered horses, let the cavalry pass. This is a lively looking place
of. two dozen houses, with frowning damsels in the windows
and doors. May poles still standing. They did not expect the
Yankees so soon. Took the road toward Raymond, eighteen
miles distant. At sundown came into camp in thick oak brush.

[54]

1863] AT THE FRONT

All our cooking utensils in the mule wagons. ' k By order
obliged to go to bed without our supper save hard crackers.

Near Raymond, Monday, May 11. Harnessed and fed at 3
o'clock, it being a standing . order from Grant that all troops
be under arms at that hour and remain so for one hour. At
sunrise we started out in the road and laid by our horses until
noon, waiting to move on. Logan's Division passed by. At
last moved on about a mile and went to park. Came to action
front [position known as "action" in tactics — ready for open
fire if necessary], stretched tarpaulins. Forage wagons sent
out when there came an orderly at full speed with orders to
march immediately. All hands were busy in a moment, but
before half the horses were harnessed there came another, and
the order was countermanded and all was quiet again. I was
on guard. Went on at 1 o'clock in the night, to listen to the
bugles and watch the rising fires of the drowsy army just
aroused from dreams of better and happier times to come.

Raymond, Tuesday, May 12. Awoke at the usual hour,
hitched up at daylight and took up the line of march. Trav
elled slowly, stopping frequently until about 12 M. When we
neared the firing, the report of which we could hear all day,
we were ordered forward at double quick for two miles, and
formed in line of battle immediately under the brow of the
hill. But the work was done by Logan's Division. The firing
gradually ceased and at 4 P. M. all was calm and still after
the leaden storm, and the heroes were allowed to recite the
startling events of the morning. They commenced driving the
enemy at sunrise and about 10 A. M. they met them in superior
force. The 1st Brigade suffered the worst. The 20th 111. and
31st Iowa losing more men than in the five previous engage
ments, Shiloh and Corinth included. Many were severely
wounded. Took about 50 or sixty prisoners.

6 P. M. we limbered to the front and marched into Raymond
at double quick. It was dark before we got in, and the dust

[551

AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

was so thick that I could not see the lead-rider. The howitzers
were posted on the entrance of the Jackson road in the public
square, and stood picket. The horses which had been nil day
without water or feed, obliged to stand in the harness hitched
up. Drivers lying by their teams.

New Clinton, Miss., Wednesday, May 13. Awoke from my
bare bed on the rocky pavement to find the sun high and bright,
shining in my face, a thing not known for a long time. Unhar
nessed and fed the poor, weary horses. Two interesting Creoles
and black wenches treated us with a breakfast of corn dodgers,
confiscated molasses. 7 A. M. the Division moved out on the
Clinton road, second battery in column; advanced as fast as
practicable, being obliged to reconnoiter and feel our way. In
fantry formed in line twice. At 4 P. M. we entered Clinton,
a respectable looking station on the Vicksburg road. Went
into park two miles from town, eight miles from Jackson. To
morrow we are to move on to the attack, great advance in three
columns. Hot work ahead and many may fall. May I be able
to discharge my duty.

Jacksonr Miss., Thursday, May 14. Considerable rain during
the night and indications of more. Moved on without much
hindrance about four miles, when we came upon them in force,
the rain falling in torrents. The infantry went forward and
formed in line, a rebel battery throwing shells from the right
at them. 1st and 2nd Brigades on the right, 3rd 011 the left.
Batteries moved forward leaving the caissons behind. The 1st
Missouri Battery took a position on the right and was hotly
engaged with the enemy's guns for half an hour.

Meanwhile we were waiting in the road in range of their
shells, which were flying over us and dropping either side,
but luckily none took effect. The enemy's infantry in line in
front doing sharp work, when the whole line of infantry pre
pared to make a charge, 1st Section ordered out to support
them. They unslung their knapsacks and went in with a shout,

[561

1863] IN BATTLE

when the crash of musketry was terrific, volley after volley,
the bullets flying thick around, all lying as close to the ground
as practicable, when the cry "They run! They run!" was
heard and after them they went in all directions. We were or
dered forward and we did go at double quick across the charg
ing ground. Dead rebels— and many of them lay there
wounded and bleeding. The infantry followed them up the
hill, then fell back and we came into battery, when Captain
Dillon said, "6th Wisconsin Battery, I am here — open fire on
them". And we did. The six pieces went off almost simultan
eously, and we were enveloped in a cloud of powder smoke,
then another, until nearly all the shells were gone, when we
ceased firing, and they were gone. Cheer after cheer went up
from the infantry as McPherson went galloping by. I never
before could see how men could cheer on the battlefield, but I
never felt more like it in my life. Such is victory.

At 2 o'clock we moved forward, the infantry in line and the
artillery in column on the road. As we advanced, a man came
from the right, where we could see that Sherman had sharp
work to-day, reporting that he had entered Jackson and taken
5000 prisoners. It could hardly be credited, but at last we
were convinced of it as we entered their ineffective earth
works with their pieces, caissons, etc. left uninjured; they had
left everything, Sherman's shells having scared them out of the
capital of one of the strongest states of the Union. If there
ever was a jubilant army, Grant's army at Jackson was that
night. The papers of the morning were found, which said
that the Yankee vandals never would pollute Jackson. The
force we met were direct from Charleston, S. C. — Eastern
troops; but a wounded man told us they soon found out they
were not fighting New York troops. Went into park in the
suburbs of the town back of their breastworks. Lieutenant
Simpson went down-town foraging. Ordered to cook three
days' rations.

T571

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Near Clinton, Friday, May 15. Awoke to prepare to march
at 6 A. M., cooks having been up nearly all night baking the
flour and meal. Retraced our steps back, leaving one of Sher
man's divisions to guard the place and we were to go and par
take in more stirring scenes. Passed through Clinton in the
afternoon and encamped at sundown four miles beyond.

Near Clinton, Saturday, May 16. Started at 7 A. M.
Heavy firing in front, and at 10 A. M. we came up to the
scene of action. They were engaged by Osterhaus's, Hovey's
and Logan's Divisions. We were immediately called forward
and took a position on a knoll where we had a good view.
They were in thick timber. Logan's Division managed to get
on their right flank, driving them with rapidity, but at the
same time they were driving the line on the left and came near
penetrating our center, many of our men having used all their
ammunition, and the amount of stragglers falling back without
order becoming dangerous. It was a dangerous moment. All
eyes were anxiously looking, almost trembling, for the re
sult; but at last there comes Colonel Holmes with his Brigade
on double quick, which soon checked their progress, and the
artillery were brought into position, McAllister's 24-pounder
howitzers on the left, with Quinby's on the right and center.
The infantry fell back at double quick as we opened fire on
them, shelling the woods — 38 pieces in all, belching away in
fearful rapidity. Kept it up for one hour. When we ceased
firing, they had left and all was still. The fight continued
about five hours, the musketry having been exceedingly hot.
We took seventeen pieces of artillery and about 2,000 prisoners.

After the battle intelligence reached us that Vicksburg was
occupied by our forces, and that the troops of that place had
met us in force with the hope of saving Jackson, which was
met with cheer after cheer, although it was almost too good to
believe. We marched after them, and going across the battle
field it was a sickening sight, many of the regiments having

[58]

1863] BEFORE VICKSBURG

been literally cut to pieces. For four miles the road was scat
tered with dead rebels and caissons etc. Came into camp at 11
P. M. and soon dropped asleep after a clear victory. We suf
fered no loss save one man wounded by a premature discharge
of piece.

Near Clinton, Sunday, May 17. 8 A. M. We are packed up
ready for orders to move. Cannonading is heard briskly at
times. Captain Williams 's 1st U. S. Battery of heavy siege guns
drawn by oxen and mules are passing. The enemy reported
to have crossed the river and posted themselves behind cotton
bales. Some of the troops have been furnished with hard-tack,
but we have not seen any yet. While waiting, we have received
mail up to May 3. All well. 9 A. M. moved out through the
thickly packed trains about four miles, then lay in the shade
until 5 P. M. went into park in an orchard. Gen. McClernand
has driven the enemy across the bridge at the railroad, cap
turing a brigade of prisoners.

Near Black River, Monday, May 18. Crossed the Black
River on bridge built of cotton during the previous night, and
marched through a cypress swamp for two miles without any
roads. Other troops concentrating from other points as they
are crossing in many places. Went in camp very late, after
which obliged to ride three or four miles in search of water.
Very tired.

The Siege of Vicksburg

Before Vicksburg, Miss., Tuesday, May 19. We are lying in
the reserve of the battle line before Vicksburg, having been
pushed forward at double quick. General Grant gave them
till 11 A. M. to surrender, but they did not avail of it. Firing
is going on with Parrott pieces in front but not very brisk. 1
P. M. The 1st Section (Rifled) have gone to the left with

F591

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Lieutenant Clark. The other pieces were brought into action
in front, and laying in the reserve. Brisk cannonading all
around with sharp musketry at times — McArthur has taken a
fort and guns. Sherman drove them about a mile on the right,
McClernand holds his own on the left. Both wings said to
have joined the Mississippi. Pontoon train passed to the right
in great hurry at 4 P. M. to be thrown toward the Yazoo.

Darkness closed hostilities and we limbered up and passed to
the front about a mile, and planted our battery on a hill, very
steep and high, doubling teams to go up. Relieved the llth
Ohio who had been engaged all day against a fort, using up all
their ammunition. Cannoneers silently set to work levelling
off a position ; the horses unhitched and tied under a gin house.
We lay down on the bare, rough ground, clothes all on, but it
prevented not our sleeping.

Before Vicksburg, Wednesday, May 20. Long before dary
we were silently aroused (cold and stiff, chilled through by
the dampness of the night) to find a line of arms at " stack"
and a squad of men busily engaged in front. They were the
pioneer corps, which had been at work nearly all night digging
a position for the pieces in the hillside. Hitched up our horses
as soon and as still as possible, and waited for the coming day
with nothing to eat whatever.

At sunrise our skirmishers advanced toward their line and
soon commenced their "popping". We found ourselves in
plain view and range of a strong looking fort. Within half
a mile of us we could see the cannoneers around the guns.
They seemed to have no anxiety to commence, and batteries
were brought into position at every available point, but as Bol-
ton's Battery was coming in on the left, they opened and the
shell went flying over our heads. We responded with two
shots, when we were ordered to cease firing until ordered to
the contrary. The pioneers busy at work throwing up a bas
tion, which was occupied by two siege guns, 30-pounders, which

[60]

1863] SHOT AND SHELL

came up this morning. A steady firing was kept up all day
by most of the batteries, but as we could not fire without rak
ing our skirmishers, we had to lie on the dusty hillside in the
white clay, only to '"duck" close to mother earth as the shells
came flying. A solid shot rolled at our feet, harmless. We
fired about twelve rounds, other pieces about the same. The
first Section in the same position as occupied yesterday, to our
left, used up all its ammunition. Our sharp-shooters advanced
under cover of the hill within 50 yards of the fort, and man
aged to keep the cannoneers down nearly all the time. DeGol-
yer advanced Avith his Battery to the next hill. Night came on
and firing ceased. Camp fires lit, and at 9 o'clock we were
relieved by the 12th Wisconsin.

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, May 21. Last night we fell
back near the place occupied day before yesterday in the re
serve line. Unharnessed and tied to the wheel. Laid down
in the corn field and slept sweetly till 9 A. M. Harnessed and
fed our horses. Our haversacks were empty and no grain in
the quartermasters' department. Our last meal was brought
us yesterday by our cook, which in fact was a small portion.
But we kept as good cheer as possible. One of our men man
aged to find about a half bushel of coarse meal (for which we
paid a dollar) and a beef killed, which with a good cup of corn
cob coffee made us a good breakfast, and all were satisfied. Tin-
harnessed; drew two days' rations hard crackers, rare things.
Lay still all day. A slight sprinkle of rain settled the awfu'
dust.

Firing kept up steadily from early dawn until dark, not fast,
though still bombarding the fort. A flag of truce sent in by
Pemberton, offering possession of the city if allowed to pass out
with side-arms, which Grant respectfully declined, as a com
plete chain from one river to the other is thrown around them,
Hurlbut coming up with 40,000 fresh troops, also Banks. Com
munication opened from Young's Point with Haynes Bluff,

[61]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [186:5

so as to make it an easier matter to obtain provisions. Steele
reported to have reached the town on the right, but compelled
to fall back to his entrenchment by superior force.

Before Vicksburg, Friday, May 22. First Section of caissons
have gone to tke landing for ammunition. Howitzers ordered
out. 8 A. M. Advanced to the line of caissons, when we were
ordered to prepare to support a grand charge to be made at 10
o'clock all along the line. Two of McAllister's 24-pounder
howitzers to go with us. The limbers were stripped No. 's 5
and 7, to have charge of canister in haversack. It was a warm
place to go, and we anticipated hot work. At the hour the in
fantry advanced. Most of the enemy's guns had been silenced
for the time by the unceasing cannonading kept up from all
points for an hour before the charge, but when they came
up to the front of the fort they met the infantry in force, and
then a terrible struggle ensued until darkness put an end to
the scene. Both parties stubbornly held their own. Our line
was right under their fort with the flag stuck on the corner
and neither party could remove it. On the knoll by the siege
guns was a sight truly sublime and terrible. For miles to the
left the field of conflict could be seen extending to McCler-
nand 's Corps, artillery smoke rolling in volumes from the brow
of the ridge a quarter of a mile to the fortifications, and the
sharp crack and puff of the musketry immediately under them.
At sundown our line was obliged to fall back for the night.
Doubtless many a poor fellow lay on the field groaning from
pain. 8 P. M. ordered to return to our camp and report to the
same place at half past five in the morning. First Section still
in their old position, having been actively engaged all day.

Before Vicksburg, Saturday, May 23. 8 A. M. We are ly
ing in the road as yesterday, but little fighting yet except with
artillery. Rumor says that pioneers are undermining the forts
to blow them up. A gentle shower has fallen which has light
ened the air and settled the dust, " God-sent" for the poor

[62]

1863] ENTRENCHING

wounded, of which there are a great many. While writing, the
ambulance is waiting for the remains of Colonel Dollins of the
81st Illinois and Colonel Boomer, commander of the 3rd Brig
ade, both of whom fell yesterday, gallant officers and accom
plished gentlemen. 12 M. Cannoneers ordered to the front
with entrenching tools, and in an hour the pieces followed into
a secreted position on the brow of a steep and rugged hill. A
stockade dug for the pieces, into which they were drawn by
hand. Limbers put under cover of the hill, and the horses un
hitched and tied to the trees. The guns commanded the right.
A slow fire was opened which was kept up till dark, of shell
and shrapnel, mostly to keep the rebel sharp-shooters back.
Drew rations of coffee, ham and hard bread which gave us a
supper of good cheer and light hearts.

Fixed our beds under the brow of the hill just out of reach
of the little deadly missiles that went whistling over our heads
every once in a while in volleys. But we were in unusually
good spirits, cracking jokes 'neath the bright silver moon. No
sooner had we begun to travel in the "land of Nod", when the
3rd Platoon was ordered to turn out, quick and still, hitch up
and pull out. It is expected that the rebs will try to cut their
way out to-night and we want to be ready. In fifteen minutes
we were on the road, moving back toward our old place; un
hitched and lay down again with orders to be ready at half
past three A. M. Thus we ended another day before Vicks-
burg.

Before Vicksburg, Sunday, May 24. Up and ready as or
dered, but with the sun we unharnessed, watered and fed, then
lay quiet all day. Washed and changed clothes, and Oh! what
a relief. Truly water is a boon. Grant seems to be willing to
allow the inhabitants of Vicksburg the Sunday for devotion.
There has been but very little fighting to-day, little artillery
firing. 4th Division passed in from Haynes Bluff for War-
renton.

[63]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

Received a good mail which gladdened all our hearts. Oh!
blessed white-winged messenger, how my mind has been occu
pied all day by sweet thoughts and hopes inspired by thy vis
its! Letters up to the 10th. Wrote a short and hurried letter
home. Learned through the State Journal that a friend and
former teacher, E. C. Hungerford, had fallen in the fight on
the Rappahannock. It is another severe blow to his brother
Tommy. How many, many more will this cruel war require to
satisfy its victims. Wounded passing all day in ambulances to
the river. Sergt. J. B. Jackson and L. N. Keeler gone. Sick.

Before Vicksburg, Monday, May 25. Awoke and harnessed
at the usual hour. With the sun we unharnessed and watered.
9 A. M. the four pieces ordered out on the road the same place
they had been for a part of the last four days. Lay there till
1 P. M. Third and sixth pieces ordered to their old position
of the 23rd inst. Fourth and fifth back to camp. Double
quicked it out there as we were exposed to the fire of the sharp
shooters. Part of the day they were exceedingly busy. Took
our position, unhitched our horses, threw a few shells at them
slowly until 3 P. M. A flag of truce was reported to have
come out of the breastwork. It was met by General Logan.
A parley was held for an hour and a half when it retired. A
cessation of hostilities was agreed upon till 8 : 30 P. M. (to bury
the dead). Both parties came out of their entrenchments, con
versed, changed papers, etc. I was within forty yards of the
fort, where the sharp-shooters had dexterously hidden them
selves.

Before Vicksburg, Tuesday, May 26. Returned to camp last
night after dark. This morning moved up a mile and a half
to the left, put up harness racks, stretched picket in a beauti
ful orchard laden with fruit, which although not ripe we gath
ered and used for sauce. Mortar boats busy throwing shells
all day; not much artillery firing from this side. Sergt. S.

[64]

1863] MIDNIGHT ALARM

Hauxhurst returned from Memphis. Telegraph line put up
from the landing to the several headquarters.

Before Vicksburg. Wednesday, May 27. Called out a little
past midnight; hitched up with haste and moved out, took a
position on the right the best we could and in the road. The
gunners were ordered to have spikes ready so as to be able to
spike their pieces if obliged to abandon them. They expected
am. attempt to break through the lines. Put on my overcoat,
lay down at the head of my team, halter in hand, and did not
awake till broad daylight, within dangerous proximity to Jack's
feet, but he would not hurt his rider while asleep. Returned
to camp, the scare being over. Lay quiet all day, a heavy
bombardment kept up all day. The sharp-shooters busy pick
ing off our cannoneers. Most of the convalescents left at Mil-
likens Bend returned to-day, llth Ohio Battery gone to Sul
phur Springs with brigade of infantry.

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, May 28. Windy and cloudy.
Spent the day in eating mulberries, writing and sleeping.
Mail came. Brisk cannonading in the evening. Mortars work
ing all day.

Before Vicksburg, Friday, May 29. The day was opened
with a general cannonading all along the line for thirty min
utes, with as much rapidity as possible. It was a sublime and
terrible scene, the powder smoke gathering in a dark heavy
cloud overhead, with the shells exploding with a- continual
flash over their forts, and now and then a mortar (shell) high
in air could be seen. A gentle rain fell in the afternoon. Re
ceived twenty-five new horses from the landing. A repetition
at sundown of the morning's work, then all was quiet. Wrote
to John.

Before Vicksburg, Saturday, May 30. Warm and dull.
Nothing to do and nothing to read so lay down and slept most
of the day. Awake at 10 o'clock at night with orders to hitch

5 [65]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

up, and at quarter to eleven o'clock the pieces and limbers
started to the left and front, down through the valley, past
sutler shops and baggage wagons, then up a steep bluff, where
it required five teams to haul the pieces up ; then passed
through the advance line of artillery and through a passage
dug in the hill, hiding us from view for about six rods, then
down into an abrupt ravine. The cannoneers obliged to hold
back with prolongs to keep it [the piece] from running down
unmanageable.

We were soon at the bottom of the ravine. On the top of
the hill the pieces were to be planted. It was 3 A. M. when
the artillery on each side and behind us opened a hot cannon
ading over our heads, grazing the top of the hill so close that
we dared not go in position, and we lay at the bottom while
they whistled and screeched over our heads. The fiery track
of the fuze-shell could easily be tracked through the dark, and
the roar of pieces as they echoed was deafening for half an
hour, when we put our pieces in position, took the limber un
der the hill and unhitched.

Before Vicksburg, Sunday, May 31. Awoke by the side of
my team when the sun was high. Went up the hill to see the
pieces, but was timely warned by a "whist" by my ear to
keep low, as we were within 300 yards of the enemy's fort, and
at the first indication of a man's head a leaden messenger was
sent to him, and safety only existed in keeping out of sight by
lying low. Nelson brought our breakfast from camp. Un
harnessed our horses and went to water back to our old water
ing place, exposed to the fire of the sharp-shooters. One of our
horses was struck in the neck.

Very warm. Built a shade and lay down to sweat and sleep.
At 3 P. M. the rebs opened a fire with a piece of artillery which
was returned by a dozen. One of the 10th Iowa killed in rifle
pit by our piece.

[661

1863 J DODGING SHARP-SHOOTERS

Before Vicksburg, Monday, June 1. Cannoneers up nearly
all night. Advanced our pieces eight yards to the front so as
to get better range. Went to water horses, stopped in camp to
feed hay in the forenoon and afternoon. At dusk started out
with both limbers after ammunition. Went about two miles
to Quinby's headquarters. Pilled them from magazines and
returned by 10 P. M.

Before Vicksburg, Tuesday, June 2. Fired at intervals all
day. At night fired thirty minutes without ceasing. Caisson
limber after ammunition in the evening. Up till midnight
helping on the bastion. The heat very oppressive.

Before Vicksburg, Wednesday, June 3. Nothing of import
ance until about 3 P. M. when the enemy opened with artillery
all along the line, which soon brought the cannoneers to their
post, and rapid firing of twenty minutes convinced them that
they had better quit. The shells flew very thick for a few
minutes. One 24-pounder dropped into the second piece's bas
tion, taking out the eye of Fred Baker, the first man wounded
by rebs. Received mail.

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, June 4. But little fighting
done to-day with the exception of sharp-shooting. Sultry and
heavy. Battery drew clothing. 1 got a rubber poncho.

Before Vicksburg, Friday, June 5. Fine day. Not very
warm. Ordered to fire once every five minutes during the day.
Went with the gun-limber to the magazine at noon. Fired
twenty rounds in the evening. Occasional firing all night.

Before Vicksburg, Saturday, June 6. But little firing dur
ing the day. While watering horses I rode about two miles
into the country, filled my haversack with ripe, juicy plums.
Thought I'd like to take them home to Mary and have a short
cake. But no — wait awhile. I'll take them to camp and make
some for supper, in hopes for something nicer in the future.

[67]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

Before Vicksburg, Sunday, June 7. Matters even here
within hearing of the enemy's voices are settling into a dull
monotony. The crack of the sharp-shooters fails to make an
impression on the accustomed ear, and the occasional roll of
cannon is as a mother's lullaby to drop us to sleep. Happily
knapsacks at last arrived from Millikens Bend. The volume
of Atlantic Monthlies sent me by Brother Thomas gave me
much pleasure in perusing.

Before Vicksburg, Monday, June 8. Unusually quiet during
the day, our ammunition being scarce, none at the arsenal, and
we used it sparingly for fear of an emergency. George
Spencer, David Evans and myself remodelled our shelving,
which, for want of something else is this: a shelf dug in the
hillside, two feet deep above and long enough to lie down,
covered with a double roof of cane-thatch. And this is what
we call our home. Yes, it is filled with the dear ones here in
mind if not in body.

Before Vicksburg, Tuesday, June 9. A sharp engagement
took place on our right last night which almost approached a
battle. General Logan was advancing a cotton cased car un
der the enemy's feet with the intention of running up in this
a battery into the rebels' works. He had been working on it
for several nights and was progressing fine, but slow, as he
had to dig by the sharp-shooters. Kept the rebs down by dis
charging frequent volleys in the dark, but last night they re
turned it with much zeal, and threw rockets over their works
which accomplished its aim and burned the cotton to the
ground. Our artillery soon made things quiet. The caisson
gone to the landing this morning for ammunition. Geo. took
his team for the 6th Wisconsin.

I am here all alone to-day, a thing unusual. For awhile I
found ample company in reading the Monthlies, but my mind
wanders way back to dear Wisconsin, and a strange feeling of

[68]

1863] JUiNE WEATHER

lonesomeness comes over me as I lie here in this, what now
looks like the hermit's retreat.

Before Vicksburg, Wednesday, June 10. A heavy rain storm
came on early and continued all day. The dusty valley was
converted into a bed of a wild rushing stream. Kept middling
dry nnt.il evening, when we went to help bring a limber down
the hill, it being too slippery for the horses. Got thoroughly
drenched and slept in wet blankets and on the wet ground, but
it is all the same for soldiers. What would folks at home
think? It is well they are ignorant of it.

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, June 11. Pleasant day. The
air light and balmy. Dust settled by the rain of yesterday.
Very steady and heavy cannonading all day. A nine-inch gun
was brought into position on our right to-day and busily en
gaged in battering down the rebel wall. Its huge missiles
would bury deep in the earth, then explode, tearing up many
trees.

Before Vicksburg, Friday, June 12. Watered and grazed
my team while I picked a can full of blackberries, made a lux
ury for dinner. Called on guard at 1 P. M.— third relief.
Visited by Sergt. J. Savage of the 23rd Wisconsin. Stayed
nearly all the afternoon. Pleasant chat. Rebels opened fire
at about 4 P. M. with a mortar, throwing three or four shells
over us. Found to my sorrow that my needle book and Testa
ment had dropped through my side pocket where I always
carried them. Too bad, for they were gifts of two noble help
ers, a mother and sister. I will much miss them.

Before Vicksburg, Saturday, June 13. A spirited day on
both sides. Mortar from the secesh playing all day, the shells
passing over our heads, two exploding over us, but did no dam
age. At 2 P. M. fell back to the foot of the hill to allow the
rear batteries a freer play to shell the woods where the mortar
was supposed to be. Kept it up for one hour. The long

[69]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

looked for Lieutenant Fancher returned after nearly a year's
absence. Caused no excitement.

Before Vicksburg, Sunday, June 14. Watered and grazed
horses and picked berries. Did not return to camp until after
dinner. Sharp cannonading all day. The rebels opened with
several pieces of artillery on the left, firing with zeal. Signed
the pay-rolls in the afternoon. Received a letter from home.
Had not heard from me since the 6th ult. Great anxiety for
me. Could I but acquaint them of my condition, what a re
lief it would be.

Before Vicksburg, Monday, June 15. Awoke to hear the
rebel shells breaking the timber of the opposite hill, as they
rushed by, they having opened with a piece of light artillery
on the extreme right over their fort, throwing solid shot; kept
it up all day, and occasionally a ''whistling Jim" gave life to
the cannonading that was not manifested when it was all one
sided. Two more large guns mounted on the right. Battery
wagon and forge moved over.

Before Vicksburg, Tuesday, June 16. Nothing of importance
transpired during the day. Capt. B. "W. Telfair of the 20th
visited the Battery in the evening. Our howitzer was elevated
mortar fashion by letting the trail into the ground. The metal
lic fuze bored out and a paper fuze of longer time inserted.
The charge of powder diminished to about five ounces, and they
were tossed over and above the mortar, doing good effect.

Before Vicksburg, Wednesday, June 17. David Evans ob
tained permission from Captain to go in search of his brother
to the 20th Iowa and myself to accompany him. As soon as
breakfast was over we mounted our horses and started down
through the hollow to the left, and after six miles travelling
through a continual string of bayonets and tents, we found
them [20th Iowa] with the 20th Wisconsin, direct from the

[70]

1863] WHISTLING JIM

Army of the Frontier, encamped with the low white dog tents.
He found his brother. Joyful meeting of course.

After two hours' stay we started back. Called at the 23rd
Wisconsin to see friends and arrived in camp by 3 o'clock, af
ter having been within three-quarters of a mile to the extreme
left of the line. The line on the left we found much weaker
than here. No battery planted as yet in formidable position.
A 120-pounder opened this morning, dismounting one piece
as we watered. Called at the Battery hospital to see D. J.
Davis who was a little better. Mortar firing continuing; we
replied with a will. Not much damage done, I think.

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, June 18. Very warm. Graz
ing forbidden henceforth, therefore did not get our complement
of blackberries. Grant, evidently thinking that there was am
munition enough thrown away, issued orders not to fire unless
fired upon, consequently all was quiet except when "whistling
Jim" came over, when all the pieces returned the compliment
with a volley. Received letters from home and Helena. Lit
tle anxious about us; received mine of the 24th ult.

Before Vicksburg, Friday, June 19. Very warm. But by
keeping quiet as much as possible not very oppressive. The
enemy fired more to-day than any day since we came here — the
mortars once every thirty minutes, and profiting by our ex
ample, they threw shells from light pieces, which bursted di
rectly overhead. No damages yet. Preparations being made
for a general shelling in the morning. Two* hundred rounds
of ammunition to each piece. Put my shade over horses in the
evening.

Before Vicksburg, Saturday, June 20. Awakened this morn
ing by lively reveille from the muzzle of the 9 -inch columbiads
which opened at 9 A. M., followed by the 30-pound Parrott, then
light battery, and a continued crash from all points for six
hours, when, at 10 A. M. firing ceased. Whether the strong-

[71]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

hold was weakened or not by the process is not known. Our
piece alone threw two hundred rounds. The two regiments of
infantry were posted in the rear during the fighting. Logan's
men on the enemy's works digging. Three horses wounded and
one negro in the evening from sharp-shooters.

Before Vicksburg, Sunday, June 21. Pleasant day. Not
much artillery firing, but sharp musketry. 3 horses wounded.
Called on guard in the afternoon; guarding five platoon drivers
for grazing without permission; they were put on extra duty.
Paid off to the 1st of May. The officer forgot his allotment
roll. Received full pay here. Expressed $20.00 home.

Before Vicksburg, Monday, June 22. Quiet, dull day. Very
little firing by artillery. Ammunition scarce. Eben Davis of
20th Iowa visited us in the afternoon. Report says fighting
on Black River with Johnston. Ambulance gone back. 3rd
Brigade of our Division under marching orders. Wrote two
letters which occupied most of my time.

Before Vicksburg, Tuesday, June 23. Reveille at 5 A. M.
Drivers fall in for roll call, then stable call. No horses to be
taken from the picket rope except at water call. Pioneer
Corps put up a brush screen to hide us from the view of the
sharp-shooters, who of late became not only annoying but dan
gerous. Heavy wind and rain in the evening.

Before Vicksburg, Wednesday, June 24. Cloudy and indi
cations of rain. Heavy firing on the left was heard last night.
Cannoneers called to their posts and equipments on. The reb
els charged with two brigades on a rifle pit, in which the 12th
Wisconsin was stationed. They allowed them to approach
within a few rods of the pit, then poured in deadly volleys;
with the third [volley] they broke for their works, the 12th
after them, going [up] the heights. If they had had any sup
port they might have entered. David Evans's horse wounded.

[72] •

1863] THE MINE

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, June 25. Our curiosity was
awakened this morning by an order to each piece to deposit all
their slow-matches at Captain's tent, we knew not for what
purpose. But we soon learned that it was to convey fire to
the blast placed under the big fort to our right (in Logan's
line). A drift 37 feet deep was run under it with chambers
parallel to the fort. In this was deposited - - Ibs. of powder
(by the trusty negro). Orders were given to the several ser
geants to have the cannoneers at their posts at 2 P. M. at which
time the fort was "to be blown up" and a general cannonad
ing to be immediately opened.

As the hour approached, all hands were anxiously waiting,
each desirous of witnessing the result. It was dull and very
oppressive; all nature seemed drooping, and ominous silence
prevailed on both sides; not a flutter of air, not a word was
spoken, and you could hear naught but your own silent breath.
All at once a dead heavy roll, a hundred shouts, and you could
see nothing but a black cloud of dirt and powder smoke, throw
ing the earth 30 or 40 feet in the air, and about half of the
wall rolled over the ditch as if turned by a ponderous plow.
Instantaneous with this was the crack of a hundred cannon,
as if they were all pulled off by one lanyard, and a furious
cannonading answered, while the infantry advancing with a
yell that none but soldiers can give, rushed up the breastworks,
and a galling fire ensued between the rebs at the bottom and
at the top. Our men tried hard to dislodge them and take
possession of the fort, but it was too much. They lay on the
ground until night, elevating their guns above their heads to
shoot, while some obtained concealed positions, firing while
those below were loading for them. A stand of colors was
brought up and planted. Hand grenades were tossed back and
forth with great briskness. Some were digging for a piece of
artillery, an engagement in which valor and courage are sig
nalized.

[73]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Before Vicksburg, Friday, June 26. Our men still claim
their side of the fort, nothing daunted by the stubbornness of
yesterday. An active engagement was continued during the
night by grenades, all the surplus shells of smooth bores taken
to be used for such. The 5th Platoon driver turned in with
us this morning to dig a well to water the horses, which we
completed by 4 P. M., 15 feet deep, width 30 inches. At even
ing I received my weekly letters.

Before Vicksburg, Saturday, June 27. Rather sore from yes
terday's fatigue. The hot sun pouring his fiery arrows down
with such force as almost to overcome us. Rebs threw many
20-pound shells (Parrott) into this hole or building, but they
were uncharged, which took away much of their terror. They
were aimed at the disputed fort (which they look at as much
ours as theirs, I should judge). They also opened fire with a
heavy siege gun this morning, but were soon quieted. The
12th Wisconsin Battery blowed up a limber while silencing it.

Before Vicksburg, Sunday, June 28. A Sunday is with us,
but no one finds any reminder of it as he looks about him. The
same routine is gone through with, and were it not for my
memoranda 1 would not know it. When I compare this with
the Sunday at home, when all work is laid aside, sister and
brother that during the we ok have been absent, are at home,
all there, the quiet lunch for supper — all. all crowd upon my
memory, and I long for the time when I can again enjoy them,
and the vacuity in my heart be filled, and even to-day I can
imagine I can see that gathering, and I know that Mother's
anxious heart looks upon my vacant seat and wonders if her
boy is yet spared. More than once the tears have gushed to
my eyes (I hope it is no cowardice) as I think of her emaciated
form in that old arm chair. Would it be any consolation to
her to know that her son is thinking of her, that he has not
forgotten ?

[74]

1863] VISITING IN CAMP

Before Vicksburg, Monday, June 29. Came off of guard to
assist my messmate in enlarging our shelter so as to be cooler,
and put up bunks of cane, which is a good deal more comfort
able. The health of the Battery is on the decline, I am sorry
to state. Seven or eight cases in hospital; Griff down with
boils. D. J. Davis and W. Hamilton shaking with the ague.
My own health is not too good, troubled with diarrhea more or
less continually. I am daily falling off.

Before Vicksburg, Tuesday, June 30. Two siege guns, 32-
pounders, brought in last night to be mounted on the left and
front of us, but the carriages did not fit. Eight teams were
sent to the landing for others. Captain Dillon received the
appointment of Chief of Artillery vice Sands. Drivers called
out 9 A. M. We policed the valley in the hot sun (a whim
of red tape). Mustered for pay at 5 P. M. by Captain Dillon.

Before Vicksburg, Wednesday, July 1. Nothing of impor
tance during the day, with the exception of another attempt at
blowing up the fort. The shock I felt while writing in my
"shebang". A large volume was thrown inside making a much
wider gap than before. Siege guns played on it for some
time, but there was no reckless advance as before. Two rebs,
one negro, and a hound were blown over to the Yankees, the
former dead, the latter unhurt.

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, July 2. Hearing that William
Jones of the 23rd was wounded, I obtained permission of Lieu
tenant Clark, commanding Battery, to go and visit him. G. R.
Jones and myself found him in the Division hospital with his
leg amputated above the knee, wounded on the 30th ult. by
a chance musket ball. Looked well under the circumstances.
Called upon J. Savage before returning. Rebs showed a line
in front of us in the afternoon. Several shots exchanged.

Before Vicksburg, Friday, July 3. 9 A. M. A flag of truce
appeared opposite Smith's Division, accompanied by General

[75]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Bowen and Colonel Montgomery, who were taken to Grant's
headquarters, blindfolded. 12 M. General Pemberton met U.
S. Grant under a large tree on the road to Vicksburg, to our
right, with their staff on the outside of their respective works.
The parley was continued until dark, when they wi'thdrew.
Orders issued not to fire until further orders. A strange day
to us, so quiet and calm.

But a gloom was cast on the 6th Battery notwithstanding
the hopeful indications of the truce. After the flag had ap
peared on the left and firing had ceased on both sides, and the
men carelessly exposed themselves to view, a miscreant, yes,
a brute in human form, took advantage of the opportunity to
deprive one at least of his life, now, when unguarded, when
under other circumstances he would have failed. Alvah B.
Page, gunner of the second piece, was shot in the left ear, while
sitting on the piece, instantly killing a noble life and good
soldier, much loved and respected by all, and one of the best
shots in the Battery. Many a time had he planted his missiles
where they carried terror to the enemy's heart. His last words
were the hopeful ones "I guess they are gone up". He lived
to sight the last gun fired at the enemy's stronghold. A si«^e
gun was to be given him the very morning he was buried in
a soldier's grave, 2 P. M.

Before Vieksburg, Saturday, July 4. The National Birth
day, and we awoke to welcome it under favorable auspices.
All was quiet and still and we could hardly convince ourselves
but that we were transformed to the quiet home of Wisconsin
and were ready to take a part in the grand celebration. The
truce was still held. Butternuts leisurely lounging along their
breastworks, our men the same, still we knew not what the re
sult would be at the national salute fired with blank cartridge.

9 A. M. orders came stating that at 10 A. M. the enemy were
to march out, stack arms on the outside of their works and
return as prisoners of war. What glorious news — the men all

[76]

1863] THE SURRENDER

in ecstacy too great for cheers. At the appointed hour white
rags were stuck all along their line, which were hailed with
cheers from one end of the line to the other. Commanding
officers and staff rode out first, making the formal surrender,
after which all the troops formed in line and marched out,
colors flying, stacked their arms, equipments and colors, march
ing back under their officers. Commissioned officers were al
lowed to retain their side-arms. In the meantime our bands,
which had been silent for so long, struck up "Hail Columbia"
etc., which affected the troops as an electric shock, and they
saluted with deafening cheers. As the last of the rebs went in,
General Grant and staff with body-guards, entered the tent.
Guards were stationed on breastworks and the surrendered
prisoners permitted to run at large.

So Vicksburg, the pet of the Confederacy has fallen, and that
too, on the most glorious day of the whole year, and long to be
remembered by the soldier boy who spent his Fourth there. He
was happy, but still he turned with longing eyes and wishful
heart to the North. There was a void there, a vacancy which
triumphs and which military victory could not fill, his home,
never forgotten. I ended my Fourth on guard, hopefully.

Vicksburg, Sunday, July 5. We were momentarily expecting
marching orders, while I wrote two letters, but at last we were
told to prepare to march at 4 P. M., and at the appointed hour
all was packed up, horses hitched up and ready. We entered
Vicksburg in front of Carr's original line, and after many halts
among the broken ravines, amongst butternuts swarming on
every side, we came into battery of five yards intervals in a
little knoll, after dark.

[77]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

A Well-Earned Rest

Vicksburg, Monday, July 6. To-day we lay waiting all day
for orders to hitch up to go into permanent park, but for some
reason or other they did not come, and we were exposed to the
burning sun all day, but well amused, strolling over the scarred
surface of Vicksburg, plowed everywhere by raking shot and
bursting shell, exploring the extensive caves inhabited by the
citizens during the siege, but now deserted, and they once more
were not afraid to walk in God's sunlight. Received mail.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, July 7. As we did not move to-day, we
spent the day amongst the prisoners who are by far the most
numerous. Never has such lenity been shown to prisoners of
war before. They are allowed to go anywhere within the lines
and guard, their officers riding out in full regimentals, sash
and swords, with orderlies. And groups of both parties are
seen on every hand talking the matter over in a friendly way.
A much better effect will result from this than if they were
strict and kept them under guard. It opens their eyes to facts
that before they were ignorant of, and many will be induced
never again to raise arms against the stars and stripes. A brisk
trade is going on. They sell their scrip for ten cents on {he
dollar. Canteens traded, coffee etc. given them freely. The
best good feelings prevail. All are anxious to go home, where
they will stay if possible.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, July 8. No immediate prospect of
moving. Boys busy putting up tents, shades, etc. I strolled
among the Alabams on the right, Got a "fly" fixed for which
we had use. Found some of the greenest specimens of hu
manity I think, in the universe, their ignorance being little less
than that of the slave they despise, with as imperfect a dialect.
They "reckoned as how you 'uns all would be a heap wus to

[78]

1863] DRINKING IN CAMP

we 'uns all". They wished they could come back to the old
Union again.

Vicksburg, Thursday, July 9. The work of paroling the pris
oners goes on as fast as possible. Many of the Western rebs
crossed the river to-day, and many of the Mississippi and Louis
iana are ready to leave in the morning. Their officers have
given up the hope of taking them into parole camp. They all
go to their homes, and will carry discontent and repentance
to many a hearthstone. Wells were sunk to-day in the hollow,
giving cool water, but not very pure. Rebs had been here for
a year drinking brackish water, everyone is that lazy.

Vicksburg, Friday, July 10. Everybody busy preparing
permanent quarters. Tarpaulins spread over picket rope.
Water the horses in the river twice a day, passing through the
.center of Vicksburg. It is planted on very rough ground, very
scattering with the exception of the first streets. Notwithstand
ing the lay of the country, it is made beautiful by shrubbery
and shade trees which are liberally and beautifully planted
along the street.

Vicksburg, Saturday, July 11. Very warm and dull. Offi
cers all drunk. In the evening 1st Brigade band serenaded
Captain Dillon, after which they were seated, treated and
played and played and drank. Songs were sung and beautiful
music played, but the demon of the bowl prevailed, the leader
of the band soon became unable to go farther, and a scene be
fitting a groggery ensued. All seemed to have lost all respect
for best principles. Too bad. These men left home with great
pretensions of temperance; even now it would be difficult to
convince those left behind otherwise; but whiskey is used by
our officers more freely than water, and that too is what they
draw for the men mostly. Many a dark thing behind the cur
tain in this world.

[791

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Troubled with toothache all day and at night Dr. Brady took
it out at the third hitch. Oh !

Vicksburg, Sunday, July 12. Inspection of clothing at 9
A. M. the first of the kind since we left Memphis, after which
McPherson's General Order No. 20 was read; also official in
formation of the surrender of Port Hudson on the 7th inst.
and our victory in the East, which of course put a hopeful
aspect on affairs. Received a large mail. Signed pay-rolls
6 t. M.

Vicksburg, Monday, July 13. Heavy rain last night. Cloudy
and stormy all day to-day. Policed off all the grounds under
the Battery. Evie and myself went about two miles, to the
right in the afternoon on horseback, got cane enough for bunks.
Prisoners all marched out to-day except the sick; Colonel San-
born, inspecting officer, taking all contraband articles from
them.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, July 14. All is quiet and still, every
body fixed up comfortably, and an old Welsh farmer's oven
built, so we have soft bread, a great luxury. Trains run reg
ularly to Big Black, taking troops and provisions. Third Brig
ade of our Division gone back to the rear. A few prisoners
came in with the evening train. All is life on the river, crowded
with boats, the town swarming with sutlers.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, July 15. All quiet and sleepy. Very
warm. No mail or news.

Vicksburg, Thursday, July 16. Now that we are fixed up
and the officers over their big spree (generally speaking) we
broke up camp and went into park about two miles to the right
on a pretty slope. The battery parked, the tents were put in
its rear regularly by sections. All the shades, bunks etc. were
hauled over from the old camp, which was accomplished by
night, and put up.

[80]

1863] BATHING

Vieksburg, Friday, July 17. Was on detail all day, putting
up stable and hauling brush. Many hands made light work,
but it was hard to stand the sun. Bathed in the Mississippi
while watering horses, and returned to camp to receive two
goodly letters from home, and T. L.

Vieksburg, Saturday, July 18. Watered and sent team to
camp. I remained with others to unload hay from barge, but
could not get any. Walked back to camp by dinner time, and
received pay up to first of July.

Vicksburg, Sunday, July 19. At reveille the gun teams of
the third, fourth and sixth Platoons were ordered to harness
up, and we started out with Lieutenant Clark before breakfast
to haul in rebel guns from the line destined for Helena, Ark
ansas. Rode all along the line to the left, seven or eight miles,
left two 30-pound Parrotts, four 10-pound Dahlgrens, two 12-
pound howitzers, two rifles (James). Did not get back to camp
till noon. Hungry and exhausted in the hot sun and dust.

Vicksburg, Monday, July 20. Sergts. J. M. Hood and W. W.
Runyan; Corps. Sam Beaver, Charles Neefe and S. A. Ferris;
privates J. Neefe and J. L. Bennett started home on a thirty
day furlough. It caused many a longing wish in the hearts
of us all for the day when we should follow to stay for good.
Had a Battery inspection by Lieutenants Clark and Simpson.
A. M. a general invoice of all government property taken.
Bathed in the Mississippi in the evening. Mail arrived. None
for me.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, July 21. Very warm. Considerable
sickness. The Battery is much reduced in numbers, there be
ing but two or three cannoneers to a platoon, which makes it
heavy on the detail.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, July 22. Teams and men gathering
rebel pieces and caissons. Company cook started to-day, and

6 [81]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

all the Battery to be in one mess, much to the dissatisfaction
of the boys. No mail.

Vicksburg, Thursday, July 23. Hot and monotonous. Evie
troubled with diarrhea for several days, very sick in the after
noon.

Vicksburg, Friday, July 24. General Herron's command re
turned from their expedition to Yazoo City, having cleared the
rebs out gloriously. They captured several thousand bales of
cotton and negroes innumerable. The flat by the river as we
go to water is covered with women and children of all hues and
sizes, a grotesque scene, the men having been pressed into the
service.

Eben Davis of the 20th Iowa visited us — was with us all
the morning and took dinner with us. Evie some better.
Heard the news of William Jones's death.

Vicksburg, Saturday, July 25. Troops returning from Jack
son, their expedition having been crowned with success. Not
withstanding the warm weather they marched in good order
and high spirits.

Vicksburg, Sunday, July 26. Several of our boys attended
divine service at the M. E. Church. Very warm and oppres
sive. Indications of rain, much needed to settle the choking
dust. Health is very good so far in spite of wind and' weather.
Received mail.

Vicksburg, Monday, July 27. A severe rain storm visited us
last night preceded by a heavy wind which prostrated nearly
half of the huts, leaving the occupants to the mercy of the ele
ments. Received a letter from home but one week old; the
latest yet received. Northern papers of the 22nd inst. ; good
news from all quarters. "Oh! the good time's a-comiiig". On
guard. Troubled with a gathering on my right forefinger.
Very painful.

[821

1863] CAMP SURGERY

Vicksburg, Tuesday, July 28. Very warm, and oppressive.
Suffered severely from my finger. I am afraid I am going to
have a felon on it. Did not take care of my team. Battery M,
1st Missouri returned from their Jackson expedition, forty on
the sick list, being obliged to use their mule drivers to park
their battery.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, July 29. Had but little sleep last
night on account of my finger and very painful all day.
Showed it to our doctor who wanted to lance it, but had no
knife.

Vicksburg, Thursday, July 30. Finger a little easier. Slept
while I kept it in water. No mail. Very monotonous, espe
cially when suffering. Visited by Sergeant Savage, 23rd Wis
consin, he going home on a furlough.

Vicksburg, Friday, July 31. The Company is rife with
grumbling and discontent, owing to the Company cook opera
tions; sour and heavy bread and other rations uncooked, a bar
rel of the " infernal liquid" having been drawn at headquar
ters. A shameful free use of it. Orderly too drunk for duty.

Vicksburg, Saturday, Aug. 1. Took a large core out of the
swelling on my finger. It does not pain me any more. A citi
zen took in a cartload of peaches to-day, and upon order of
Lieutenant Clark sold them to the boys. They were the first I
ate this season. If he would but come daily it would be healthier.
Cloudy all day. At night visited by a big storm of wind and
rain. Went to bed early with a very heavy fever and rheu
matic pain in all my bones. No mail for four days. Strict or
ders down town. None admitted without pass from Provost
Marshal.

Vicksburg, Sunday, Aug. 2. Awoke with a dumpish feeling.
Corporal Dziewanowski went with a squad to church. Evie and
myself spent the morning in reading the Testament, every other

[83]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

chapter. Read Acts. In the afternoon I wras taken with a sud
den and severe attack of diarrhea accompanied with fever and
headache. Felt very bad. Wrote a short letter home notwith
standing.

Vicksburg, Monday, Aug. 3. Had a very heavy fever all
night. In the morning the fever subsided, and a cold clammy
sweat followed. Reported at the siek call. The doctor pre
scribed three large doses of morphine and quinine, with two
blue pills. Took the first dose, caused vomiting, did not take
any more. Felt very sick all day. Could eat nothing. Bathed
and put wet applications to head.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, Aug. 4. Felt much better, but have no
appetite. Griff brought me a dish of arrowroot which 1 ate. I
think I am out of danger of a fever, so I will not go to sick call.
Received six days' mail.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, Aug. 5. Felt much better to-day,
with good appetite, had I. anything fit to eat. Lieutenants Hood
and Simpson have gone home on a furlough. Dr. Miller re
turned, giving us a speech in the evening.

Vicksburg, Thursday, Aug. 6. Health still improving. Cor
poral Sweet went outside the lines with five men and a team
after peaches. Brought in several bushels. Ha_d quite a treat
for supper in the shape of bread and milk, which Evie obtained
from a private house in town, the first milk I have had since
I left home. "It was good".

Vicksburg, Friday, Aug. 7. Very warm in the forenoon,
cloudy in the afternoon, ended in rain and wind. Felt much
like the ague. Mail.

Vicksburg, Saturday, Aug. 8. A very hot monotonous day.
Felt well. Lay in my tent all day reading Parton's Life of
Aaron Burr, a man of many faults but large brain. Finished
it, very interesting throughout. At morning and evening, the

[841

1863] "WILD, JOVIAL SCUFFLE

volleys over the graves of the departed are growing more nu
merous. I heard four to-day, all from the infantry regiments.

Vicksburg, Sunday, Aug. 9. Spent the day pleasantly, read
ing aloud most of the time Covenant and Enquirer. David
Wallace very sick in camp, not expected to live. Bathed in
pond in the evening.

Vicksburg, Monday, Aug. 10. Took my team this morning
and reported at roll call, having been off duty thirteen days.
10 A. M. Coulter Campbell died in the hospital, the first death
of the season, a strong, healthy man. A burying party went
over at 4 P. M. to consign his earthly remains to their last
abode. His death had but little effect in camp, so estranged is
the soldier's mind. But some hearts have been wounded and
are bleeding that have been patiently waiting his return for
many hours, never to be realized in this world.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, Aug. 11. Warm — yes, hot. Lay in
camp with no excitement ; notwithstanding I whiled the hours
away without much trouble with plenty of papers and captured
books to read.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, Aug. 12. Received mail. I got two
letters from home bearing date of July 12th and August 2nd.,
the first being detained at Memphis. What a source of comfort
these weekly messengers from home are to me. How anxiously
I wait for the week to roll around so as to be the recipient.

Vicksburg, Thursday, Aug. 13. Boys in good spirits, those
of them that are blessed with health. At twilight they had a
general gathering in our street, and held a wild, jovial scuffle
of an hour, such as none but soldiers can partake in or enjoy.
An eye witness would call it foolishness, but it is well that they
spend it innocently rather than in some worse game. "It is all
in three years" they say. Very true.

[85]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

Vicksburg, Friday, Aug. 14. The anniversary of my military
life. One year ago to-day I took the oath to serve faithfully
Uncle Sam. What my hopes and fears were then were far from
being true. I have passed a year of hardship and danger from
home and kindred. Instead of returning home in half the time
with peace triumphant, I am away down here, and I expect
nothing else but to serve another year — God willing. It is a
bigger and more tedious job than I anticipated, but I am not
disheartened,.! will do my duty as near as possible.

Vicksburg, Saturday, Aug. 15. Evie and I did our washing
before breakfast. Swam my horse in the pond this morning
with fifty others. Good fun. David Evans and myself rode
over to the hospital in the afternoon; most of the boys doing
well with the exception of G. R. Jones. He is very low, weak
and emaciated. I am afraid he will not live long. Poor boy,
he is very anxious to go home. After supper sent by Sergeant
Dixon in search of my off horse, having strayed while I was
sick. Had a pleasant ride over the hills and through gorges,
but no event.

Vicksburg, Sunday, Aug. 16. Weather very warm and heavy.
Health — not sick, not well. Feel dull — a headache. Completed
Sparks 's Biographies of Gen. Chas. Lee and Joseph Reed. Read
also a sermon of H. W. Beecher in the Independent. Wrote
home. 4 P. M. we were suddenly startled by a loud peal of
thunder, others followed, and in ten minutes the sky so clear
and blue, was enshrouded with black frowning clouds and a
heavy storm of wind with heavy rain followed. It rained nearly
all nigth. A Southern storm comes unexpectedly and leaves the
same.

Vicksburg, Monday, Aug. 17. On detail after hay. Got out
fifteen bales of new hay from the "Laurel Hill." Heavy work.
Returned by dinner time. Cloudy and rainy in the evening.
Why don't the mail come!

[86]

1863 FURLOUGHS

Vicksburg, Tuesday, Aug. 18. On guard, first relief. A
heavy rain fell during the afternoon and nearly all night. Much
like fall weather in Wisconsin. Rather disagreeable on foot.
Kept dry by the aid of rubber. Mail arrived, with a good
amount for "Jenk".

Vicksburg, Wednesday, Aug. 19. Health tolerable. WTent to
see the sick boys. They were disheartened in hopes of obtain
ing furloughs. Rained and thundered in the afternoon.

Vicksburg, Thursday, Aug. 20. Medical Director examining
patients — granted sick furloughs to all the applicants, twenty-
nine in number ; some of them were in much need of them, others
"played off" so as to go home. The time of the last furloughs
has run out, but not any of them seen yet. 1 P. M. a terrible
explosion has occurred on the levee. The "City of Madison"
loading up with ammunition for below was blown to fragments.
Nearly 200 lives were lost, and much damage done to the "Ed.
Walsh" lying alongside her. It was a sickening scene, human
bodies torn and burned into shreds thrown high in air. Many
bodies not found. Colonel Powell, chief of artillery on Mc-
Pherson's staff, and Lieutenant MacMurray, Battery M, re
ported to be on board the fated boat.

Vicksburg, Friday, Aug. 21. Lieutenant Fancher started
home, his resignation having been accepted. He was very low.
Another awful hot and sultry day, with rainy, foggy nights.
Several troubled with ague. Prepared a mess of mushrooms
for supper.

Vicksburg, Saturday, Aug. 22. Health good, but severe head
ache and bad digestion. Butter all gone, no more to be found.
I don't feel much disposed to eat "sow belly"; had grape sauce
bottled and charged.

Vicksburg, Sunday, Aug. 23. The warmest day of the sea
son, I think. My shirt was wet with sweat while lying on ray

[87]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

bunk. Very quiet and one could almost imagine the calm of a
Sabbath day was spread around as of times past. Felt rather
lonesome, mused away most of the day in a waking dream,
thinking of home and by-gone days. Mail arrived — none for
me. Wrote to T. L. All looking for the return of the fur-
loughed men. They are six days behind.

Vicksburg, Monday, Aug. 24. Health very good to-day. Very
warm and dull until it was broken at noon by the intelligence
that "the furloughs were coming", and sure enough, they did
come 'direct from home. Everybody rushed out to meet them,
anxious to speak to one that was from home. "Did you see
any of our folks?" "Have you got anything for me?", etc.
were heaped upon them. Many of the boys were the recipients
of packages from their folks, but I was not one of the lucky
ones.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, Aug. 25. This morning twenty-seven
men started home on sick furloughs, some that were in great
need of it, others who were "a little sick" so as to go home.
The remainder of the day "furlough" was the theme, and many
were a "leetle" homesick. On guard. Third relief. Day
wound up with a fight.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, Aug. 26. The time passed very pleas
antly while on post last night, but it was very chilly. Slept
cold under two blankets, while to-day it is very warm. Bad
weather for ague. Feel much like it all day. Headache.

Vicksburg, Thursday, Aug. 27. Did not get up for roll call.
Did not feel well. Headache and rheumatism quite bad in
limbs. Feverish all day. Cleared off in the afternoon, fine and
pleasant in the evening.

Vicksburg, Friday, Aug. 28. Felt pretty well. Fine day.
Just before dinner I was informed that there was a box for me
at the express office. I immediately obtained the necessary pa-

[881

1863] BOX FROM HOME

pers from Lieutenant Clark ; George Spencer and myself hitched
up the team and started down. Found it "a good large one",
but just as I got in the wagon it commenced raining, and did
rain all the way back, giving us as good a wetting as ever a sol
dier had. Found my tent nearly immersed in water, a large
stream running between our bunks and the rain pouring in from
above. Obliged to lay the box away for two hours before the
storm abated so as to open it — was Job ever tempted so?
But at last it stopped and we found lots of good things, butter,
cake, dried fruit, cheese, etc. Much obliged to you.

Vicksburg, Saturday, Aug. 29. Mail arrived. Received a
letter. John enclosed the receipt of box from express office.
Express one day before mail. Nineteen furloughed men left
for home on the " J. C. Swan". On detail in the afternoon for
foraging. Loaded 166 sacks of oats and 21 bales of hay after
dark, when we returned rather tired.

Vicksburg, Sunday, Aug. 30. Calm and quiet day. Spent
the day in writing home and perusing Covenants received from
home. D. J. D. quite sick. Slept with him during the night.
Administered medicine.

Vicksburg, Monday, Aug. 31. Very cold last night. Slept
uncomfortable. Got up before daylight and cleaned out my
stable. 9 A. M. we had mounted inspection and muster for
pay. The old harness was stiff and scattered, in poor condition
for active service, as were also some of the horses (or at least
so is my old gray charger, a secesh horse farm bred). Warm
during the day. D. J. D. a little better.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, Sept. 1. Did our washing before break
fast, Evie doing the rubbing and I built fire and "toted" suds.
Lieutenants Hood and Simpson returned. One year ago to-day
I joined the Battery at Rienzi, a raw recruit. Little did I
think that in one year I would be away down here in Vicks
burg. On the contrary I hoped long ere this to be quietly at

[89]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY t1863

home with peace o'er all the land. Where will I be one year
from to-day — God knows.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, Sept. 2. On guard, third relief. As
I did not go on until 12 M., E. W. E. and myself took a ride
along the line to Fort Hill, which is about three miles distant,
and took another look at the ditches, holes, abatis, and bastions,
from behind which many savage little balls were hurled at us
two months ago, but now they are empty and grass grown.
Uncle Sam is fixing up all the important forts with gabions.
Fort Hill entirely built over, very pretty. Returned through
the hollows. Two letters from home awaiting me.

Vicksburg, Thursday, Sept. 3. WTas not relieved from guard
this morning until 9 A. M., having stood an hour over time.
(Orderly slept too near whiskey keg I guess). Suffering from
severe cold. Rev. Mr. Fancher and Miss Calkins arrived here
in the afternoon in search of son and father, both of which were
happily disappointed, as they had gone home before they ar
rived. Mr. Fancher addressed us at evening roll call, after
which three Badger cheers were given him.

Vicksburg, Friday, Sept. 4. Lieutenant Clark left on leave
of absence with Miss Calkins and Mr. Fancher, leaving Lieu
tenant Hood in command of Battery. William Hamilton taken
sick with fever and gone to the hospital to-day. D. J. D. quite
sick.

Vicksburg, Saturday, Sept. 5. Fine day. Health very good.
Feel first rate today. We have fine times of it. We bought
lots of potatoes and onions with butter, sauce, etc. and we live
good for soldiers. Headquarters serenaded in the evening by
3rd Brigade band — Avery leader.

Vicksburg, Sunday, Sept. 6. Warm and monotonous during
the day. Felt unwell. Mail arrived in the evening. None for
me.

[90]

1863] BEYOND THE LINES

Vicksburg, Monday, Sept. 7. To break the monotony of camp,
Evie and myself obtained permission to go outside the lines.
We mounted our steeds and passed through a port hole in the
line to evade the guards, as we had no pass. We rode out about
three miles before we saw a- house.

House No. 1, stopped to get a drink; three women, no men
around. She had lost four cows and wanted to know who stole
them, suspected a one legged nigger, she "would be dagged if
she wouldn't cut off his other leg."

House No. 2. We were looking for horses, examined one tied
at the door. The old woman came out haggling, excited, claim
ing protection by her papers. We told her it was all right and
rode on, leaving her to hate the Yankees.

House No. 3. Two fine looking young ladies there. Inquired
for milk to drink. A little black girl brought us some butter
milk — good, tasted like home. Gave the blushing Confederate
miss a quarter and left.

House No. 4. Examined a negro, pretending him to be a sus
picious character, but finally concluded he was all right. Found
plenty of nice tomatoes in the old secesh camp growing wild.
Picked lots of muskatines and grapes, and returned via old posi
tion. Arrived in camp 3 P. M. tired but well pleased with our
adventure. Company had received marching orders.

Vicksburg, Tuesday, Sept. 8. Preparing to march. There
are but four pieces going, ten days' rations supposed to be
enough. Oiling harness, etc. On guard. Music by the fiddlers
in the evening, who were not much disposed to put their lights
out at taps. Orderly Jenawein dictates, which resulted in quite
a row. Lieutenant Hood finally succeeded in getting things
dark, but the minstrels kept on with their fun till midnight,
quite sprung, some of them, by whiskey.

Vicksburg, Wednesday, Sept. 9. - and - - drunk and

noisy. Lieutenant Hood endeavored to arrest - — , but he
ran away. Corporal Neefe chased him over the lulls awhile and

[91]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

returned, when King, corporal of the guard, with three men, tried
it, but with no better success. They then returned to camp.
When - - thought pursuit was abandoned, he returned, when
three guards with sabres arrested him, but he got away, putting
them at defiance, running over the hills yelling like a maniac.
Lieutenant Hood now mounted the guards, and after a good
deal of running and more excitement, he halted from exhaus
tion and attacked the guards, Proctor and Richardson. At this
time quite a mob of - - sympathizers made for the guards and
interfered, but were finally subdued, and in the afternoon Hood
took - — , - - and - - to the Provost Marshal, and they are
to-night locked up in jail. Army regulations read at roll call.

Vicksburg, Thursday, Sept. 10. Very warm and quiet during
the day. All ready and awaiting marching orders. J - - taken
to the Provost Marshal as being concerned in yesterday's riot.
Mail arrived, brought the sad news of the death of Alice, Evie's
sister. After supper call, while eating quietly in the dusk, a
hurried order came to hitch up, and was executed with more
haste. Our piece was not going, and I knew not in what capac
ity I was to go, but it was evident there was nobody to tell me
just then. And not wishing to be left, I hurriedly packed my
blankets and started with the column; nearly everything lying
around, such was the haste. We marched briskly until we
reached the levee street, when we halted, made a counter march
and returned to camp.

At Work Again

Vicksburg, Friday, Sept. 11. Reveille at the usual time,
breakfast, after which proceeded to move; hitched quietly and
leisurely. I was ordered to pick my team out of the Platoon
and harness it as extra team, which gave me an opporunity to
take my valise along with me. Griff took my butter keg and

[92]

1863] TOILING UP THE MISSISSIPPI

dried apples. Left my overcoat with E. W. E., knapsack in
charge of G. M. Spencer and Piper, who are to stay behind.
Proceeded to the levee and loaded on to the "Illinois", a large
freight boat; guns put in position on the forecastle, the horses
in the stern unharnessed. All was stowed away tuck by 9
A. M. Infantry loading on teams and mules all the remainder
of the day, filling up the lower deck so as to be impassable.
Made our bed on the boiler deck and slept.

On the Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 12. Early the "muskets"
appeared on the shore and filed on board, the 18th Wisconsin,
4th Minnesota and 63rd Illinois took their quarters on this boat.
At 11 : 30 A. M. the fleet of the 7th Division put out, headed up
stream in the following order:

"Emerald" .... . Flagship

. 1st Brigade

Kentucky \

"John J. Roe" J
"Clara Bell" \

°"

3rd Brigade
"enset \

Advanced very slowly, the river being very low. Passed Mil-
likens Bend, deserted and grass grown in appearance, at 4 P. M.
Landed at sundown on an island to take on fuel. A lot of ne
groes at work for government chopping cord wood. All hands
got off for fun. Bathed in the river and went to bed,

On the Mississippi, Sunday, Sept. 13. Boat left the wood-
yard at 10 o'clock last night, but lay on a sand bar most of the
night. Slowly and carefully, like a thing, of life, our palace
picked her way up through bold sand bars. Motion was imper
ceptible and the banks but one monotonous belt of cotton-wood
with here and there a chimney which we suppose is where some
enterprising secesh is going to build. Struck shore at Provi
dence 11 A. M. Many of the boys, supposing her stay to be

[931

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

more permanent, jumped ashore and put off, but the bell soon
called them back, and a race for the boat ensued, but some were
too late. The boat had swung off leaving them to the mercy of
gunboats or guerrillas, there being no troops after these.

3 P. M. met "Gladiator" going down. Lashed to her, took
on passenger and two hogshead of ice. Spent the day lying
on deck amidst the muskets, haversacks, blankets and men. De
prived of the pleasure of writing home as usual.

On the Mississippi, Monday, Sept. 14. 'Tis evening, and I am
seated on the guard of the boat all alone, with no noise save the
heavy breathing of the steam horse. The sun has just set in the
stern of the boat like a ball of fire, throwing its long rays over
the waters, giving it the appearance of a golden pathway. The
soldiers are all mute, gazing out on the glorious scene, save here
and there a group indulging in a quiet game of cards. All day
the boat has kept on its slow but steady headway, passed Na
poleon at 9 A. M. and yet we are many miles from Helena.
You will not wonder then that I have been day dreaming. Be
hind us lies the parched city of Vicksburg, for which we un
derwent many weeks of weary toil to capture, after which two
short months of rest. And now we are off again, we know iK.-t
where, but we know it is for war, marching, fatigues, battles and
perhaps wounds and suffering, and that, while the anxious heart
of an invalid mother, an aged father, sisters and brothers dear,
are waiting my return. And I am comparatively alone, and
the only happiness I derive is in the indulgence of hope of the
realization of the good time coming.

Helena, Tuesday, Sept. 15. Awakened to find the boats tied
up at Helena, which point we reached at 3 : 30 A. M. Guards
were placed to prevent the boys going ashore; notwithstanding,
the boys went and came. At 2 P. M. swung out and after much
trouble affected a landing where we could disembark. Got off
and into park by sundown. Indications of rain. (I on guard.)

[941

1863] BREAKING LOOSE

Many of the boys down in the streets raising "ned", breaking
into saloons, drunk, etc.

Helena, Wednesday, Sept. 16. A cold, blustering night I had
of it last night on guard, threatening clouds passing over with
high winds. The boys lying around with no shelter, regardless
of the coming storm, as though they slept in the wealthiest man
sion. It was a time for melancholy thoughts for me. Day ar
rived. No rain. Wrote a hasty letter before breakfast.

Orders were received to prepare to march to-morrow morning
at 4 as an escort to a large wagon train destined to Little Rock.
Our Battery was on the advance in the order of march, but it
was countermanded before night. I have very sore feet in the
shape of boils, swelling so that I am unable to put on my shoes.
I on duty and it does no good to complain but it is unpleasant.
Division indulged in a general hallooing at tatoo, half an hour
in length — soldiering!

Helena, Thursday, Sept. 17. The long threatened rain storm
came and it rained heavy all day. We donned our ponchos and
stood and took it. Gathered in groups around camp fires and
under trees, passing the time as soldiers pass many days, heav
ily. 12 M. ordered to hitch up and move camp below town.
The order came while we were eating dinner, but in fifteen min
utes we were on the move, the infantry after us, colors flying
and drums .beating. Went into camp about three quarters of
a mile below town between the river and the levee, with the
infantry right below. It is pretty flat but overgrown with
weeds.

The Division is put in close quarters and a chain of guards
thrown out with orders not to pass anyone out unless furnished
with a pass signed by Brigade commander. We are effectually
penned, like so many mules, the first time this Division was
ever guarded since we left Corinth. But the 7th Division never
had a good name among sutlers and Secesh merchants, and
they have not improved here. They have not forgotten our

[95]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

confinement on the sand bar here last spring, and are anxious
to take spite on the place. They patrol the town in large
squads with pretending officers, helping themselves to anything
or everything they want and march on, putting provost guard
at defiance. I say "they" because I always count myself out
in such games.

Helena, Friday, Sept. 18. A very cold chilly night. We
suffered severely as we had no shelter save what we put up with
ponchos. Had mounted drill at 8 A. M. but as I felt quite un
well I did not go out. I have a heavy fever. Went out on
detail in the P. M. after wood, as there is none to be had save
what we haul about a mile. Infantry stole all of ours last night
to keep warm. Drew thirteen wedge tents after dark, which
we put up. I was fortunate to get in one of four.

Helena, Saturday, Sept. 19. Still very chilly, the wind being
raw from the river. Slept comfortable last night. The train
which we were to escort moved this morning with the cavalry,
so the object of our expedition is abandoned and we are lying
here waiting orders. Mail arrived at tatoo. I received one
enclosed in E. W. E.'s but none from home. It has been four
weeks since the last I received from home. I am very uneasy.
I am afraid all is not well.

Helena, Sunday, Sept. 20. A fine day but cold night. Felt
unwell and sad all day. Wrote a letter home but received none.
Evie is also unwell. "Mars" arrived with the 9th Wisconsin
which disembarked here. The "Thos. E. Tutt" with the 4th
Illinois Cavalry passed by to Vicksburg. Had inspection at 9
A. M. Most of the boys were anxious to return to our comfort
able quarters at Vicksburg rather than stay in this deserted
place.

Helena, Monday, Sept. 21. Harnessed up my team this morn
ing instead of wheel team on five caisson. The first time I ever

T961

1863] FEVER AND AGUE

drove on the wheel, but got along very well. I killed about
two hours. Went on guard as soon as I returned. Felt some
better, but very sore. Times very dull and passes away slow.
Nothing to read whatever, not even a "Yellow Cover", which
is very plenty and juicy.

Helena, Tuesday, Sept. 22. Warm day. Drill as usual at
8 A. M. Watered as soon as we returned. We have to go a
mile in column over dusty roads to water twice a day. Very
unpleasant, the river bank being too steep to approach it other
wise. Obtained an order from Lieutenant Hood for a bushel
of potatoes from Commissary. Got them for $1.00 per bushel.
Hard-tack of poor quality is all the rations we receive. All
anxiously waiting for mail. A large mail passed by for us to
day.

Helena, Wednesday, Sept. 23. Had a shake last night of
about two hours in length, followed by very heavy fever, and
my head ached severely all day. A small mail was received, but
none for me. Sadly disappointed. "Christian Commission"
came into our camp this afternoon with wagon full of tracts,
"Child's Papers", "Tract Journal", etc. which were distrib
uted "without money and without price". A couple of our
boys crossed the river in a dug-out for fresh meat this evening,
but were sent back by guerrillas who chased them.

Helena. Thursday, Sept. 24. Health improving. Feel very
good to-day. The day was spent in idly waiting for the night,
with the exception of meal time which received its due atten
tion. Potatoes cooked by turns, it fell [to] my lot to cook some
for breakfast. The rest of the day sitting on the bank of the
river watching the hundreds of soldiers in bathing at all hours
of the day, following the swell of the steamboats, making an
amusing scene. About a dozen dug-outs are flying up and down
the stream at all times which were stolen from the negroes on
the plantations around.

7

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1863

A larger number of boats passed down to-day than any day
previous, most of them stern wheelers with but little loads. It
gave us fine amusement in trying to read the names at a dis
tance. Much to our dissatisfaction none of them stopped to
take us on. Our tents were unceremoniously taken away this
P. M. and we are out in the cold.

Helena, Friday, Sept. 25. Awoke to find the rubber over us
wet with dew. Breakfast attended to with much zeal, the com
pany cooks cooking coffee and sour meat, while privates and offi
cers all crowded around with skillets, cans, pans, kettles, etc.,
containing potatoes, onions, crackers, fish, green corn, etc. Af
ter breakfast "Boots and Saddles" sounded, and all were soon
ready for drill. I rode the center team on the first piece. Gun
boats " Chillicothe " and "Eastman" passed down, as also sev
eral light draft-boats.

On the Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 26. Cold night, but kept
comfortable in our "she-bang" of "ponchos". H. W. Miller
and Tommy Goodman returned from home. AVent out to drill
as usual but soon returned with orders to embark as soon as
possible (which were indeed prepared for). Both of my horses
were taken from me and put in the teams, while a couple of
lame "crowbates" [crow-baits] were given me instead.

By 10 A. M. the 6th and the 12th Battery were all on board
the "Julia", a large passenger boat fitted up with great ele
gance, on her third trip from New Orleans with several fur-
loughed men and families fleeing from the fate of the Confeder
acy, to seek protection in some Northern state. Among these
were two young females taking deck passage, and our mules,
horses, wagons etc., were stowed away upon all sides of them.
Amidst the oaths of soldiers their situation was truly pitiful.
I felt thankful that my sisters are where such trials will not
reach them. At 12 M. General Smith with Ms adinlivnt. o-fw*
aboard, and at 2 P. M. we started up stream leaving the infan
try regiments behind to follow as soon as possible. Although

r 98 ]

1868] RUMORS

the lower deck was very crowded we found plenty of room and
comfortable quarters above. The boat moved very fast and we
go very pleasantly. Night is closing in. I will lie down, hoping
that when we get to Memphis I will get some mail, as it has
been a great while since I received any.

Memphis, Sunday, Sept. 27. Awoke to find us tied up at the
wharf of Memphis with the "roustabouts" unloading the artil
lery as soon as possible, having arrived here at 4 A. M. The
boat hands unloaded all the things without any assistance
from us. \Vent to shore, cooked and ate our breakfast and
then harnessed my team. Found George Benedict and H.
Wheeler, B. Tutin and Wm. Dowden on board the "Eclipse"
bound for Vicksburg to join the Battery, but they were glad to
find us here. Moved up on the tableland. Came into "bat
tery" where we stood two long hours in the sun waiting, but
at last we moved out, passed through the streets of Memphis
enveloped in a cloud of dust.

Seven months ago, a bright Sabbath morning, we marched
through the same street to undertake a big job which we suc
cessfully achieved. 12 M. came into park on a very pretty
knoll with fine shade trees a mile above town, the Wolf River a
quarter of a mile to the front of us, 12th Battery to our left,
and the loth Army Corps came in late in the evening to our rear.
Unharnessed and of course we were at home, no tents to bother
with. What care we with God's canopy spread over us and it
don't rain. Our destination is believed to be Rosecrans's Army,
take the rail to Corinth and thence by land. Osterhaus's Divi
sion of 15th Army Corps is also coming. The flagship "Sul
tana," has arrived, at least so says dame rumor, and it is highly
probable.

Memphis, Monday, Sept. 28. Laid quiet all day with no shel
ter, very pleasant. Water our horses in Wolf River about a
mile up stream, the bank not admitting other places. There

[99]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

is much speculation as to the future, the 16th Army Corps is
under marching orders, and it is believed by many that we stay
to hold the post. In fear of which the citizens have petitioned
that we be sent off. They don't like us.

Memphis, Tuesday, Sept. 29. Hot and sultry, road very
dusty. Expecting our things from Vicksburg. Lieutenant Clark
arrived from Wisconsin with his wife. He has taken boarding
at a citizen's house close by. The anxiously looked for letter
from home came at last, the downward mail having stopped
here. Written by Ellen dated the 20th inst. Relieved my
anxiety much, notwithstanding it brought the news of Mar
garet's and Orren's sickness.

Memphis, Wednesday, Sept. 30. The threatening clouds of
yesterday evening resulted in a heavy rain commencing about
midnight, raining all night, and by daylight we were glad to
get up from our wet blankets, as the rubbers, stretched against
the fence, did but partially keep out the rain. After breakfast
I was detailed to go down town after forage and rations. The
rain fell thick and fast. Got down there; the requisitions be
ing wrong, Quartermaster had to come back, and we were
obliged to wait on the street till 4 P. M. When he came we
drew ten days' rations, eighty loaves of bread at the post com
missary. Reached camp by night, wet to the hide with no place
dry or warm to go to. The 12th Battery being a little more
active than our officers, drew their tents and they kindly divided
with us. We had nine wedge tents. Moved our wet blankets
in one of them and spread on the wet ground. Still raining.

Lieutenants and on a grand drunk last night, fought

with brickbats, etc. Were they privates, they would be tied up.
Shame! Shame!

Memphis, Thursday, Oct. 1. The rain fell all night. This
morning it is blustering and chilly. Arose shivering from OUT-
wet bed and put on our dripping clothes and huddled around

[ 100 ]

1863] A SCARE

the fires waiting for the sun to warm us. This is not pleasant
work, but the infantry suffered much worse than we did, many
of them having nothing but a poncho along with them. 10 A. M.
the king of day came forth in all his sultry glory and soon
righted matters. Drew twenty new tents. Received mail,
morning papers, etc. Looks like civilization a little now.

Memphis, Friday, Oct. 2. A fine sunny day. Six furloughed
men returned, also Frederick Baker who was wounded at Vicks-
burg. He has lost the sight in one eye. Mr. Lester brought
me a package of letters, papers and a pair of boots, all of which
is very acceptable, but most of all he has been to my home, seen
and heard them all, and says they are all in a hopeful condi
tion. Most of the Division baggage arrived from Vicksburg,
ours not yet arrived.

Memphis, Saturday, Oct. 3. Raw and windy morning. As
sembly was sounded at 8 A. M. and an order read to us from
General Smith to hold ourselves in readiness to move at a mo
ment 's warning. No officers or men allowed to leave camp.
Ammunition to be inspected, etc. A scare is up, the pickets
were attacked last night and driven in. A story is told here
that Johnston with 15,000 was on the Tallahatchie night before
last moving on Memphis, all of which is not impossible, but
highly improbable. Heavy picket thrown out which will not
let us go to water to Wolf River.

P. M. The 3rd Brigade is moving all the baggage, loading-
on the cars. The men go aboard early to-morrow morning.
Destination said to be Corinth. "Sunny South" arrived 5
P. M. with our things from below ; too late to move them up to
night. Tatoo in camp rolled with the big drums to-night.

Memphis, Sunday, Oct. 4. To-day is the anniversary of that
terrible day when our Battery lost their guns at Corinth, and it
is not forgotten. The baggage was brought up as early as pos
sible but in miserable condition, most of the clothing destroyed

[101]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

by water, having been stowed away in the hold of the boat
which sprung a leak, and stood in two feet of water. Threo
sets of harness missing or torn too badly for use, and several
horses lost. Two of the horses were found in the camp of the
7th Wisconsin Battery. Harnessed up at 7 A. M. and an in
voice taken of the missing articles; the result reported to head
quarters. The 1st Brigade are moving their baggage on to the
cars. We expect to go soon. I am ready, but many of the boys
are in poor condition to move. Many of the boys drunk last
night.

En Route to Chattanooga

Memphis, Monday, Oct. 5. I was on guard last night. It
was very cold, a heavy frost. Reveille was sounded in the in
fantry camp before dawn and at 5 A. M. they moved out; also
the 12th Wisconsin Battery. Our quartermaster drew three sets
of artillery harness, whips, curry combs and leather buckets.
Water call in the afternoon, after which hitched up as soon as
possible, struck tents and moved toward the depot of the Mem
phis and Charleston road. Came into battery on the planked
floor which we found between the depots of about an acre in
area. Unhitched and stretched the picket ropes. Amused our
selves rolling cannon balls, good fun for soldiers. Made our
beds down in the open air, but dry floor.

Corinth, Tuesday, Oct. 6. Had but a very poor night's
sleep, having a terrible toothache all night, in fact the last three
or four days — a decayed back tooth. If my teeth will decay as
fast next year, as last, I will have to go home toothless. Tm>
cooks were called up at 3 : 30 A. M. and reveille at 4. Fed.
harnessed, ate breakfast and immediately loaded the guns, wag
ons, etc. on the open cars. The horses put in the box cars with
the harness on. By 8 o'clock we were all loaded, when to our
surprise Captain Dillon made his appearance, having come in

[102]

18G3! MEMPHIS TO CORINTH

by the boat last night. 9 A. M. we started in two trains, in
fantry on top the box cars and the artillery boys stowed away
on their carriages. At the same time it commenced raining and
it continued all day.

Passed by Buntyn Station without stopping, but we saw
where we lived during the month of January last, but our she
bangs were gone.

Raleigh — we stopped here for wood and water. We recog
nized this as the place where we stopped the night before we
reached Buntyn Station and we lay in the rain. All the road
to Germantown was familiar to us. Stopped here fifteen min
utes.

Collierville was our next stopping place, a large cavalry force
being stationed here. One of our mules dropped off here and
we passed on and left him.

Lafayette — as familiar as ever. We halted here nearly three
hours. Four long trains passed us. The switch was too short
so we were obliged to run up and down every train. The 66th
Indiana were stationed and reported guerrillas very troublesome.
The road is patrolled the whole length every two hours by cav
alry, each patrol having six miles of a beat. Two reb lieuten
ants were in the depot, caught yesterday cutting the telegraph
wires. They look like flashy desperadoes.

Started on at 1 P. M. Ran very fast thirty-seven miles from
Memphis. Stockades and block houses are to be seen all along
the line, some large enough to hold a regiment, but most of
them are left vacant.

We passed through Moscow without stopping. The place
looks decidedly better than it did when we were here before, all
the dirty wood-colored houses having been burned down and the
whole policed nicely.

Halted at La Grange a few minutes. This is the pleasantest
place on the whole line, very elegant mansions here, several
stores running and a large body of troops.

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AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Grand Junction — forty-three miles from Memphis and forty-
five miles from here to Corinth. The Mississippi Central crosses
here. The last ten miles of the B. R. were very crooked The
three trains were coupled together part of the way, and they
crawled like a serpent, ran very slow. Our train laid here
two hours to steam and oil up, and it was dark before it started,
but when once under headway it endeavored to make up for
lost time, and it plunged into the darkness around curves and
through cuts at a fearful rate in the condition the road was in.
The carriages 011 the cars were loose, aud they flew back and
forth and were in great danger of being thrown off, which
would be a fatal catastrophe.

Our next halt was at a small station twenty-nine miles from
Corinth called Porter's Creek. Took wood and water. Talked
with a member of the 118th Illinois who were stationed here.
He said they had seen no trace of civilization for six months.
All they did was to hunt guerrillas who were very thick and
very wicked.

Pocahontas — fourteen miles from Corinth. We stopped here
thirty minutes. Several buildings to be seen. Tatoo sounded
while here. We were now all fatigued, sleepy, hungry and cold,
the rain having fallen all day, and it was quite chilly. There
was no room to lie down and I sat on the foot-board of the lim
ber and bracing myself, went to sleep, but it was broken. I
dreamt of a warm room and a comfortable bed (tantalizing
dream that). I was next conscious at Corinth, where we halted,
but we supposed we were going right along. I crawled under
the caisson and fell asleep with no covering save my overcoat
and poncho. Woke up at midnight chilled through. Found us
still at Corinth and fires lit on the roadside. I sat up for about
half an hour and warmed, when big drops of rain commenced
falling. I sought shelter under a warehouse stoop and laid
down between two infantry men in a space nine inches by five
feet, with my rubber over my head and slept.

[104]

1863] A GOOD CAMP

Glendale, Miss., Wednesday, Oct. 7. When next I opened
my eyes it was daylight and I felt thankful for it. I was cold
and numb with a bad headache. I got up, doubled up my
poncho and found that I had escaped a very heavy shower. The
train stood on the east side of the town in a deep cut. Fires
were blazing all along the track, and- 1 soon was by one. Met
my bedfellow Evie. He had slept down-town, but was wetter
than I. Had we known we were to stay here all night, we
would have spread our blankets and slept comfortably. The
train backed up on the side track, and I got some water and a
handful of unground coffee, which I boiled. We had soft bread
drawn in Memphis, which made up my breakfast. It was 8 A. M.
before we started out. The track was full of curves up and
down. Ran out seven miles and stopped at what is called Glen-
dale. The only building, a shed one story high, is graced with
the name of "Saw and Grist Mill". On the left hand side is
the ; ' Yates 's Sharpshooters ? ', and 1st Alabama Cavalry in neat
barracks, encircled by a stockade. They have been stationed
here nearly a year. On the right are the newly erected tents
of the 7th Division and the part of our Battery having come
through last night were unloaded and waiting for us. The
horses were taken off, having been thirty hours without food
and drink. Of course they looked very bad. My team was
taken off last night. The Battery was taken into park by noon
on a high knoll, but covered with oak brush. Unhitched and
watered. By that time the welcome sound of the bugle called
us to meat and coffee, and after dinner sufficient room was
grubbed out to stretch a picket-rope and tie our horses. Tents
were pitched in the thicket of oak and pine so that one could
not see his neighbor. Gathered pine twigs enough to make a
fine bed and I laid down to rest in this. A "lodge in some vast
wilderness". A very pretty clear brook runs close by under the
hill with several beautiful springs. Fences lay around so we
have good wood and water. What more does a soldier want?

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AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Glendale, Thursday, Oct. 8. Cold night, but a beautiful day.
As we have no prospect of getting hay, we took our horses out
to graze this morning. Grazed in an old field on the road to
Clear Creek where government cattle are kept. The grass was
dry and withered so the horses did not relish it much. Lieu
tenant Hood and his citizen brother Wilson went to town and
on their return were fired into by a squad of guerrillas.

Glendale, Friday, Oct. 9. Captain Dillon came into head
quarters this morning. Also Mrs. Lieut. S. F. Clark. And she
has gone into the tent I suppose to enjoy camp life. Grubbed
out all the bushes under the Battery and below our quarters,
which makes a field of nearly two acres opened by the 6th Bat
tery. Drew clothing in the afternoon. Grazed to the north,
passing by the camp of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, 1300 strong,
consisting mostly of refugees from the rebel army, many of
whom have their wives and children along. Notwithstanding,
they are doing valuable service scouting. The train on its re
turn is daily loaded with refugees from the interior. Antici
pating the presence of an army, they are leaving bag and bag
gage, trusting to the tender mercies of Uncle Sam. Mail ar
rived. I received two letters of the 27th.

Glendale, Saturday, Oct. 10. A very fine day and my health
is very good with the exception of a slight cold. Enjoyed my
self pleasantly in this rural retreat. I like the wilds of nature
better than a mock at civilization by the hand of slavery, such
as we everywhere meet. Grazed our horses in the woods to
day. Middling good grass. Our horses are on half rations of
grain, which after so much confinement and fasting on boat
and cars, look very bad.

Glendale, Sunday, Oct. 11. Fine day, cold night. Last night
Griff slept with us. Breakfast of coffee, hard-tack and sow
belly, as we are now reduced to the strict army-rations, but we
have apple sauce and it goes good. Company and knapsack in-

[106]

1863J AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES

spection at 8 A. M. by Lieutenants Clark and Hood. Forage
train was sent out this morning, two of our teams went out with
eight men. Returned late in the afternoon with two loads of
poor corn, having been out eight miles towards Burnsville where
the 3rd Brigade is stationed. Report the country scoured of
all forage by Osterhaus's Division which has gone ahead. There
is a report in camp General Sherman and staff have been taken
prisoners at Lafayette by 15,000 cavalry who made a dash on
the train in which they rode. It comes by telegraph from Cor
inth but aot creditable. On guard, third relief.

Glendale, Monday, Oct. 12. Very pleasant day and health
good. Went to graze at 10 A. M., returned at 12. We grazed
in the middle of the wood. The grass is dry and withered, but
better than nothing. One from Wisconsin would be surprised
to find the season so far advanced, if he were to come here.
The corn is yellow and the leaves are sear and dead, and every
thing looks much later than it usually does in Wisconsin. But
the change here is slower and it gradually falls into a healthy
old age, while there everything is green in the evening and next
morning blighted by the bitter frost. With proper culture in
intelligent hands, vegetation of all kinds can be brought to a
higher degree of perfection here than there. But instead of
finding extensive fields waving with clover and rich with beauty,
we find but small worn-out patches with deadened trees, stand
ing as a monument of the enterprising race that has so long in
habited these parts — ignorance and slavery.

Glendale, Tuesday, Oct. 13. Cloudy, with occasional showers
and distant thunder. A large division forage train took the
road to the north. In moving they go in charge of staff officers
and heavy escort of infantry. The cavalry is very busy. A
large squad left this morning on different roads, while some go
and come all day. The report of the Sherman capture is con
tradicted but no particulars of the raid, which evidently de
signed it, A small mail arrived with Wisconsin dates of the

[107]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

6th, but I was disappointed. Spent the day patching and put
ting pocket in my blouse vice the old one worn out. Capital
workman I. To-day was election day for Ohio, Iowa and
Indiana, and the troops from these states voted. To-day the fate
of Vallandigham is sealed, I trust, and those who would hence
forth seek him will find him in the grave.

Glendale, Wednesday, Oct. 14. A wet morning, raining heav
ily. Fed seven ears of corn to team this morning, brought in
yesterday by forage team. Rained in the forenoon so that we
did not graze, but it cleared off at noon, and as we had
no feed, we grazed two hours in the woods and gave three
pints of shelled corn to the team for supper. It is strange how
they live upon such fare. They are getting very poor. Train
arrived from Memphis this afternoon with paymaster but they
say that we will not be paid.

Q-lendale, Thursday, Oct. 15. Rained nearly all night, but
cleared off this morning and it was a very pleasant day. No
feed for horses. Grazed them in a dry field for two hours.
Train came in this afternoon with a little grain and hay for our
Division. We .drew half rations for five days. A large mail
came in on same train. Eight letters for our Platoon, six of
which were for Evans and myself, two of which bore dates of
September 7. Where the deuce have they been? But one was
a long letter from Sister Ellen of the 4th inst. How it stirred
up my feelings. It seems as though I was once more restored
to the peaceful paths of life after laying here in the wilderness
for over a week without a word from anywhere save from the
soldier boys. Evie had anxiously waited for a letter as his fam
ily were in a critical condition. He was growing pale and sick.
But when the letters came with cheerful news, he looked like a
new man.

Glendale, Friday, Oct. 16. A very fine day, rather warm mid
day. Health never better, weight 140 pounds which is six

[108]

1863] REVIEW

pounds better than on September 30 at Memphis. Grazed as
usual. After returning' I washed a pair of pants at the spring.
After dinner received orders to prepare for inspection, each man
to appear in his best. 1 :30 P. M. "Boots and Saddles'* sounded
and we soon were ready to move with boots blackened (those
that could afford it), coats brushed, and the old 6th looked mid
dling fine after all the dust of the war it has gone through for
two years. The only drawback was the horses which looked ter
rible. Had the bones sticking out so as to almost cut the harness.
Moved out under command of Lieutenant Clark, accompanied
\>y his wife, who rode by his side, but she was evidently a little
scared. Passed by the cavalry troops with the 12th Battery
behind us. The two Batteries came into "Action Front", when
Captain Dillon with several of the staff rode up and down on
inspection, after which they took a position in front with the
beautiful flag of the 12th Battery posted, and we passed in re
view in column of sections at walk, then mounted cannoneers,
and passed on trot. We then resumed our "Action Front",
after which Captain Dillon took command with his usual zeal,
put us through on the double quick for nearly two hours. Re
turned to camp quite tired. To-morrow wTe move.

Burnsville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 17. As instructed at last
night's roll call, reveille was sounded before daylight with or
ders to prepare to march at 8 A. M., and also to take our pay
before we started. The paymaster soon arrived, and as soon as
possible counted the $26. By breakfast he was through and at
the due time we were on the road. We marched in center of
1st Brigade bound eastward, the column short and roads good.
We had but few halts. The road lay through an uncultivated
country poorly timbered with oak and pine, and hilly in latter
end. Arrived at Burnsville by 12 M. marched through the
town (a small village) with bands playing and colors flying.
3rd Brigade stationed here. Went into camp a mile north of
R. R. on Yellow River, with .tops of high hills and bluffs to be

[109]

AN ARTILLERYiMAN's DIARY [1863

seen in the distance. Pitched tents, put up racks. Lieu tenant-
Simpson went to Corinth.

Burnsville, Sunday, Oct. 18. Was on guard last night, and
the way it rained while on guard at night relief was enough to
drown one inexperienced. 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps,
commanded by Gen. G. A. Smith, passed by at 9 A. M., also
Major General Blair, who is in command of Corps at present.
Also a large wagon train with 5th 1 [Illinois?] Cavalry as es
cort. Ordered to have 200 rounds of ammunition in chest, 300
now in train, and 30 days' rations. Mother very ill.

luka, Miss., Monday, Oct. 19. Ordered to march at 9 A. M.,
but as the Division train moved in the center and we were in
the rear, we did not get started till 1 P. M. The bottom on each
side of Yellow River was very wet, the bridges bad. so there was
considerable delay in starting, but after we started we marched
very fast and had few halts. The soil was a light sandy loam,
poorly timbered, rather hilly. Halted at 4 P. M. The big
drum taken forward in the wagon, and we walked through Inka
with the 1st Brigade Band playing lively airs. Found the 2nd
Division posted here, the 1st commanded by General Osterhaus,'
having left this morning. luka is, or was, a very pleasant ttwn,
larger than Corinth, celebrated for its medicinal springs, two
of which are enclosed very tastefully in a beautiful grove of
young oaks. Went into camp south of town in a large field
with the whole Division quartered in their tents before us. Os-
terhaus's Division having left in the morning leaving boards,
bunks, etc., we were soon in comfortable quarters. Retired
early but were awakened at 9 P. M. to report at roll call, an
order having been sent to report all absentees. The Division,
as usual, pillaging down-town. Nearly $3000 worth of goods
having been stolen, the outlaws being in the shape of a regiment
led by a Major "straps and colors" etc. Luckily the ar
tillery boys were all in camp.

r no i

1863] THOUGHTLESS BOYS

luka, Tuesday, Oct. 20. Cloudy and windy morning. Health
very good. Prepared to march in morning, but did not move.
Cleared off very pleasantly. Wrote a letter to Albion. Had
beefsteak for dinner, having paid 10 cents per pound. The
water we got from a pearly spring but heavily tainted with
mineral so as to be very unpalatable. Much talk about the dis
graceful affair of last night. Happened to be done by members
of the 2nd Division mostly, and it is supposed that General
Smith will assess the damage from the pay of all absentees at
last night's roll call. It will be no more than just. I think
that our Division is getting to be the worst in the Department
Everything is left unmolested by other troops, but when we come
along, jayhawking and pillaging is the order of the day. It
is done by unscrupulous young men or boys rather, having been
removed from all restraint of society and parents, led into ex
travagant use of money by the spendthrift, finding $13 per
month too short, they resort to this means to make "a raise".
It is certainly too bad to think that one would so far forget his
home and family as to shock them with their deportment, did
they but know. Lieutenant Simpson returned on 2 P. M. train
witk supply of nose bags, halters, ammunition, etc. but no
horses, which are the most needed.

Camp on Bear Creek, Ala., Wednesday, Oct. 21. Rainy morn
ing. Ready to move at 10 A. M., but as large wagon train
wag to go ahead of us and the roads were slippery, we did not
start till noon, all this time being in a turmoil. I sat in my
saddle with my head protruding through the rubber, moodily
wondering if we would ever start. Marched in the center of
the Division about four miles from luka. Struck a range of
hill*, and our road lay through narrow and crooked valleys,
much of the way being gravelly. Passed very pretty spring
brooks, crossed the R. R. about the state line. A squad of en
gineers stationed there. Struck Bear Creek 4 P. M., which is
a beautiful stream four rods wide and fordable where crossed ;.

[Ill]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [ises

runs swift over a pebbly bed. Came into camp on the east side
in a valley two miles wide, high ridges on either side, the Bat
tery in a cultivated field, the tents in a belt of timber. Cooked
our supper, which was of flour and fresh beef and pancakes.
Heavy cannonading heard in front, supposed to be ten miles
distant. Cogswell's 1st Chicago Independent Battery attached
to our Division, four guns, James new pattern, good looking lot
of men and horses. Lay down in a damp bed to take our first
night's sleep in "Alabam."

Camp on Bear Creek, Thursday, Oct. 22. The 3rd Brigade
came up this morning bright and early. The train stuck in the
mud, so they did not come through last night. Did not move.
Wrote a letter home this morning. Washed a shirt and pair
of socks in the P. M. Information received at headquarters
that a battery of six 12-pound light guns, had been shipped for
us to Vicksburg, also one for the 12th Battery. Efforts are be
ing made to send an officer after them; hope they will succeed.
I gather news from the front that Osterhaus, who is in the ad
vance, encountered Roddey 's command, they coming up in fed
eral uniform, killing Colonel W. M. Torrence, 30th Iowa and
several others after which they skedaddled. This was the fir
ing heard last night. Batteries were opened on them. Forrest
is reported at Tuscumbia, strongly fortified, determined to re
tard our progress. J. W. Jenawein was to-day made second
lieutenant, and Joseph Hood 6th sergeant orderly instead. Mail
arrived 9 P. M.

Dickson Station, Ala., Friday, Oct. 23. Reveille before day
light. Raining very heavy. Orders to march at 7 A. M. We
were on the advance of the column, and an order came to hitch
up and strike tents before the cooks had breakfast started. The
rain was very cold and my fingers were numb before I got iny
team harnessed and hitched. It was very disagreeable work.
"Stand to Horse" was sounded before we were fairly hitched

[112]

1863J COLD IN THE SOUTH

up, and we started out on a trot to pass the regiments as we
were behindhand. The road was muddy and rough, the horses
all trembling from cold, and the drivers with wet clothes and
cold hands, shivering and wishing they could go to the stove
and warm — (that is, in Wisconsin). But we moved on lively
passing over several ridges, then the valley widened into a very
pretty cultivated country. Our road lay along the railroad,
the track of which was badly destroyed. All the trestle work
burned, and a fire built at the end of each rail crooking it so
as to destroy it. The column halted at Dickson Station, a tiny
depot building with a fine farming country on each side and ex
tensive buildings. The fence was torn down, and we came into
battery in a field of clover. A large fire of rails was started,
and we warmed while the General looked for camping ground
and water. In half an hour Dillon's orderly came back and we
moved to the right half a mile, and came into camp nearly on
the bluffs, unharnessed, tied our horses to the trees and stuck
up our tents in the mud, but found boards to floor it and plenty
of rye straw to lie on. We built a fire in front of it, and got
partly warmed by 1 P. M. I was soon called on guard and I
suffered very much from the cold.

Dickson Station, Saturday, Oct. 24. A clear but cold night,
but with the aid of a blazing fire I spent the hours quickly. To
day it is cloudy and cold. A cold day South is far more dis
agreeable than in Wisconsin. It is always accompanied with
rain, consequently very damp, and the wind pierces through the
body although it does not freeze. Two teams with Sergeant
Hood started for luka early. We are about three miles from
the front, The smoke of Osterhaus's Division is clearly seen.
Blair's on this side of it. They have laid here several days, but
we find plenty of forage. Two beeves were brought in by our
Platoon and Evans and Blake went and dug out a sweet potato
patch for the twenty-fourth time. Succeeded in finding a fine
mess. Corn is brought in by teams. Artillery firing could be

8 [ 113 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

heard in front this morning ; result I have not heard. Four of
the 4th Brigade captured by guile.

Dickson Station, Sunday, Oct. 25. A very pleasant day and
quietly spent. Firing heard in the front with artillery about
noon. Enemy reported to be fortifying and on the advance.
Our Division ordered to be ready to move to the front at any
moment. Teams returned from luka at 9 A. M., Billy Hamil
ton having started at 2 A. M. this morning. Looks very badly
and discouraged. Drew clothing. I drew a pair of pants.
Wrote to T. L. None received. Two loads of corn brought in.

Dickson Station, Monday, Oct. 26. Long before reveille I
was awake listening to heavy roar of artillery in the front,
which at times was quite rapid. Can't be more than three miles
away. The 56th Illinois and 18th Wisconsin went out at mid
night with orders to report to Osterhaus at 3 A. M. The fir
ing gradually ceased but could be heard occasionally during the
day. General order No. 63 from W. T. Sherman was read to
us this morning at 9 A. .M. A very able and just order for the
government of troops on the march and in camp. Four
of the furloughed men returned. Large forage trains sent out
and returned plentifully laden with the good things of the
Confederacy. Health and spirits of the boys very good and all
is lively about camp.

Dickson Station, Tuesday, Oct. 27. A fine day. In good
spirits. Drill call sounded at 9 A. M. We hitched up and had
battery drill for two hours under Lieutenant Clark. The drill
ing was rather poor, many blunders. Clark is not as good a
drill-master as Dillon, not enough vivacity and life. 12th Bat
tery was out also. All quiet in front, men working on the R.
R. opposite here. Expect the cars up soon. After dinner E.
W. E. B. F. Blake and myself went into the woods after wal
nuts. Found them in plenty about a mile out, cracked all we
could eat and returned with two bags full, with blackened fin-

[114]

1863] CAMP AMUSEMENTS

gers and plenty of fun. ' ' Special Artillery Order No. 1 ' ' from
Captain Dillon was read to us at evening roll call by Orderly
Sergeant Hood in regard to Confederate clothing, none of
which is allowed to be worn.

Dickson Station, Wednesday, Oct. 28. A beautiful day. Three
teams sent out after forage. E. W. E. went on detail. Our
camp was lively during the day, the boys having bought a pair
of boxing gloves, and they were continuously in use. After
retreat squads were gathered around the camp fire telling tales
of the past and talking of pleasant anticipations to come. It
was a beautiful balmy evening and the night was far spent be
fore I betook myself to sleep, but to-morrow we march.

Chickasaw, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 29. We were called up long
before daylight, the stars brightly shining, and all was indica
tive of an early move, camp fires blazing brightly in all direc
tions, baggage wagons a-moving and orderlies flying back and
forth, but our place was in the rear to-day, so we took our time.
Piled all the corn my horses could eat before them, cleaned
them, then shelled my nose-bags full for 'the march. By that
time — had a splendid breakfast ready of fresh meat, sweet po
tatoes and fried crackers. Harnessed and hitched up by seven ;
was on the road by 7 A. M., but as the Division train was to go
ahead of us, we were delayed considerable before we got un
der way. Frequent and heavy booms of cannonading could be-
plainly heard to the east, with a distant roll of musketry, and
we knew not but we were going into a fight. But we took a
road leading directly north, crossing the railroad. We marched
slow, frequent halts in the fore part of the day. Our course
was northwest through poor country, hilly, timbered with scrub
oak and pine, the road crooked and very stony. Passed but
few houses and these of the poor rickety-log kind such as a
well to do farmer would not put his horse in. Clearings small,
filled with stones and stumps, but generally very good corn

[115]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

growing, and occasionally a patch of sweet potatoes which suf
fered from the hands of thoughtless soldiers; but I could not
think of laying hands on the small stock of the poor half-clad
old women and children we saw. Halted at noon and fed, put
ting on our nose-bags without unhitching. The water along
the road was beautiful pearly springs and pebbly brooks GJI
every side, which was enticing to look at. (Who would ask for
better beverage than this?) Reached Chickasaw — a small de
serted place on the Tennessee River, by 5 P. M. ; found the
other brigades here. The advance arrived a little after noon,
but have not yet unharnessed as they expect to cross the river.
We unharnessed and fed. Stuck up our tents as it looked like
rain, but we were told we would have to cross to-night. A mile
below is Eastport, Miss., where a good boat is busy at work
crossing over the 4th Division. Health and spirit good, but
would like to get mail.

Chickasaw, Friday, Oct. 30. Were not called out last night
as expected, and this morning it is raining very heavy
and the day was spent very disagreeably; cold, wet and muddy.
The gunboats did not cross all of the 4th Division till 9 A. M.,
when it ran up here from Eastport and commenced putting the
2nd Brigade over, the teams and wagons on a barge, and men
on board the boat. Cogswell's Battery moved out at dusk,
but did not get across until late in the night. The troops on
the other side were in a pitiful condition, no tents or shelter
and apparently but few rails. The 2nd Division in command
of Morgan L. Smith came in late in the afternoon. I rode out
about a mile and a half after feed for horses. Brought back
a bunch of fodder and a pumpkin. Mail arrived. Rec'd a
letter from John written the 21st. Mother gaining. Six eases
of smallpox in the Division.

Waterloo, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 31. The rain has cleared off
and it is a fine and clear morning but rather cold. Mustered

[116]

A FRIENDLY COUNTRY

by Lieutenant S. F. Clark for pay for the months of Septem
ber and October, after which we marched up to go across on the
transports (stern wheels). Came up the river three miles un
der escort of the gunboats, loaded with commissary stores. Did
not get to the ferry till 4 P. M. The guns and wagons were
loaded on a barge and sent across by the "Anglo Saxon." The
horses sent down stream to be taken across by the "Masonic
Gem", but it was so small that it took three trips to get across.
I got over on the second trip. We were landed half a mile
above the guns and we galloped across the other bank. It was
dark before I got to the Battery (it was in a large field of
corn). Fed my horses all they could eat, having had nothing
since morning, and filled their nosebags. Mail arrived. By
that time I found Evie with a fine supper of coffee, sweet po
tatoes and raw ham (which we bought of the commissary, 3
cts. per Ib.) with hard crackers for dessert. Obliged to wait
for the other horses until 9 P. M. After awhile we moved out
three miles to camp, came into camp and got into bed by 11 :30
P. M. in a negro shanty. Two companies of 4th U. S. Cavalry
arrived from Huntsville, Ala. with dispatches to Sherman.

Waterloo, Sunday, Nov. 1. I was called on guard at 3 A. M.
and reveille was sounded at 5, so I got but little sleep. We ex
pected to move, and prepared after breakfast, but as we did not
go, I got my portfolio and wrote two letters.- The citizens were
quite communicative, squads of young ladies and old men walk
ing through the camp. It is a small, insignificant looking
place, country stores, houses, etc. known as Waterloo. For
agers doing a good business. The 3rd Brigade came down and
went into camp 11 A. M. 3 P. M. while we were all taking it
easy, "Boots and Saddles" was sounded, and we were told to
hitch up as quickly as possible. In fifteen minutes we were on
tke road, tents in the wagons and everything ready. Double
quicked it for nearly a mile, to get into our proper place.
Marched very fast with no stoppages except rests given two or

[117]

AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

three times, thirty minutes in length. Marched through bluffy
and steep country, the road winding. Did not come into camp
until 9 P. M. Our road lay for the last three miles through a
deep gorge with very high hills on both sides. Fires were built
to guard us from the ditches. After we stopped I was obliged
to sit up an hour waiting for the wagons, so as to feed my
horses. Very sleepy and tired. Went to bed in open air and
slept sound till reveille.

Florence, Ala., Monday, Nov. 2. Reveille sounded at 5 A. M.
this morning, and at 6 we were on the road. We marched by
brigades. The 2nd is a day's march ahead and the 3rd behind.
In this way all the necessary delays in marching along are
avoided. The Division train generally moves with us. The
first five miles was rocky and stony with plenty of beautiful
springs, but after that the country was more level, of red clayey
soil. We passed some fine fields but a large portion of it is in
its wild state waiting for the hand of enterprise and industry
to convert it into productive fields of wealth. Halted at Cy
press Mills half an hour at 3 o'clock. Watered our horses in
creek of same mill. A good water power here which used to
move st large cotton factory owned by the furious rebel John

Morgan. The factories were burned last May by Colonel

as they were manufacturing for the C. S. A. The people here
were represented to be all Union people. Squads of factory
girls were strung along the road, some of them good looking,
others passable. An old woman did good business selling milk
at 5 cts. a drink. Many of them wore Union badges and in
quired for the Alabama Cavalry. This was three miles from
Florence and we reached it by 4 P. M. Went into camp on the
outskirts of the town. A beautiful college located here, three
stories high, of brick, and built after the manner of ancient
castles. Tuscumbia is on the other side of the Tennessee River.
A branch R. R. five miles long formerly connected the two
places. Rebs represented to be at Tuscumbia in force and to

[118]

1863] CAPTURE AND PAROLE

shoot every blue "breech" they see on this side. R. Randolph
captured by rebs and paroled. He was detailed to go with for
age train in the evening, strayed off, and was gobbled up by a
couple of cavalry. Paroled and sent back. He arrived in
camp after night completely worn out. His parole was not
properly drawn, and will not be respected by our authorities.
2nd Brigade moved out at 5, after drawing five days' rations
from Division teams. We have forty-seven miles to go in the
next two days.

En route, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Called out at 3 A. M., and I
thought it was no more than ten as I was very sleepy. At 5
A. M. we moved out, marched through the sleeping town with
drum and fife playing, colors flying. Florence like most south
ern towns, is built with due regard to elegance and comfort,
roomy sidewalks with spacious door yards filled with fine shrub
bery and trees. Took a northerly course and marched twenty
miles with no unnecessary delays and very fast. The infantry
many of them falling back long before night; frequent rests
were given of about twenty minutes in length. Crossed Shoal
Creek at 10 A. M. A fine bridge over it built on stone piers
and carefully enclosed, the stream about 100 yards wide, shal
low but very swift, over a rocky bed. Passed some very fine
country, but mostly inhabited by the poorer class and culti
vated by white labor. Saw but very little cotton growing, and
that of an inferior quality. Foraging done on a large scale by
our boys. Sweet potatoes and chickens in plenty. Division
commissary getting up beef cattle as we inarch. Came into
camp near, a very pretty creek with high rocky banks, the name
of which I did not learn, at 1 P. M. As soon as we came in
sight of camp, the infantry went out in squads in search of
meat, with guns. The woods were full of hogs, and it soon
sounded like heavy skirmishing, General Smith riding in great
fury back and forth, endeavoring to punish the guilty parties
and put a stop to it. He tied up several men by the limbs all

[119]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

night, but the boys got their hogs. He is getting unpopular
very fast with his men. J. Wolf, S. Beaver and M. Dziewanow-
ski detailed in the morning to go with E. W. E. in search of
horses. They returned late, having found forty mules in all
but no horses. We got twenty of them for the Battery and
they will be put in the teams instead of the broken down
horses.

This was election day for Wisconsin. The polls were opened
by a commissioned officer about half an hour of sundown, and
the electors soon deposited their votes with no fuss or talk as
is usual on such occasions, more weighty matters being on hand.
Lewis led Palmer (for governor).

En route, Wednesday, Nov. 4. Reveille sounded at 3 A. M.
and the sleepy camp was soon ready to march. Started at 5.
It was a dense, foggy morning and the red glare of innumer
able camp fires lit up the infantry in heavy columns, giving the
surroundings of the camp a wild and terrible aspect. We
moved out moodily, the stars lighting us on our way for nearly
three miles and a half before daylight appeared. The road was
rough and covered with pebbles which made it very bad for the
horses. One of mine being barefooted is somewhat lame. 10
A. M. We came up on to the camp of the 2nd Brigade at
Rogers ville, the town half a mile to the left of us. The 4th
Division had just returned, having found the bridge over Elk
River destroyed. Then it moved out on another road leading
north, which gives twenty miles more travel I understand. We
halted for three hours, unhitched and unharnessed, cleaned off
our horses and fed them. The 2nd Brigade moved out soon af
ter we came in. The 3rd Brigade came up at 12 M. At 1 P. M.
we again took the road and an easy march of six miles took
us to camp on a good creek, an old fashioned breast-wheel grist
mill close by, the name I did not learn. The first five miles
was a flat timbered country, uncultivated, but when we came
towards the creek it broke np in hills and rocks where poor folks

[1201

1863] A POOR COUNTRY

lived and picked up a scanty living. As soon as we approached
camp, grins were heard in every direction, more than last night.
Several bullets flew directly over camp, but fortunately nobody
was hurt. Officers of the day and staff officers galloped in
every direction endeavoring to stop it. A camp guard was
thrown around the infantry with orders to keep all men from
going in who had guns. But General Smith had commenced
too late to stop this Division from foraging. The guards sat
down and always looked the wrong way, and meat in plenty
was brought. Our mess had laid in a supply early in the morn
ing; six chickens, a beef and a goose was our stock for eight
men. Mail received late in the evening but I received "nary"
one.

Gilbertsboro, Ala., Thursday, Nov. 5. , Thanks to the cor
poral of the guard we did not get up till nearly 4 A. M. this
morning, as he slept and did not wake the orderly at the proper
time. But we had to hurry up to start at 5 A. M. which was a
good while before daylight. Left the 3rd Brigade behind.
They were just having reveille. A cloudy morning. Marched
six miles through a flat country heavily timbered, with excel
lent soil, but entirely uncultivated. It lies in the hands of spec
ulators. When we neared Sugar Creek it became bluffy and
rocky, which was all fenced and cultivated by poor folks. Came
mp to the 2nd Brigade here and we halted three hours to allow
them to get out. of the way. We went to a neighboring corn
crib, and shelled nose bags full of corn. Commenced raining
Tery heavily. At 1 P M. we hitched and started out. The rain
fell in torrents but the boys were as merry as ever and forgot
the wet in singing. Halting, the infantry built a bridge across
the stream with rails. Marched very lively over a hilly road
but rich valley. The clay, which in dry weather made good
roads, was soon converted into bottomless mud. Came into
camp at sundown at Gilbertsboro, Limestone County, Ala
bama. A very rich plantation here surrounded by very high

[121]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

hills. A large amount of fodder and hay was stored away in
the surrounding houses which were soon emptied by the boys
and fed to the horses or made for beds. Hungarian grass and
millet was the most of it. Division commissary issued out
plenty of fresh meat for the boys and there was not much
shooting. This evening thirty barrels of whiskey was found
buried by the 48th Indiana close to camp, so there were several
drunken men in camp.

Camp on Kichland Creek, Term., Friday, Nov. 6. Got up at
3 A. M. Moved out at 5 A. M. A clear cold morning, the roads
very muddy. We soon struck a range of hills which we rode
over. They were of solid rock broken off in ledges, very hard to
travel with artillery, especially with the wheel horses. For six
miles it was a continual stony bed, very steep hills and rocky
declivities. Eight miles on we struck the Nashville and De-
cater R. R. at Prospect. Followed it north for two miles
through a very fertile valley well laden with corn. I got a
handkerchief full of Irish potatoes from under a farm house,
satisfied the negro for them, the master not at home. The track
was in good running condition, built of "T" rails bolted to
gether at the ends and the filling is of crushed stone. Turned
east, leaving the R. R. to our left. Climbed a very high hill or
mountain, a mile long, stopped an hour for dinner on the top.
The wheel was locked for over a hundred yards going down,
over the roughest -road man ever travelled. Struck Richland
Creek at the bottom, a stream as large as Big Black Muddy, un
like all other streams of this country. Followed it up stream
for two miles, a fine stone wall built along the other side of the
road, three feet at the bottom, two feet on top, and five feet
high, of quarried limestone, inside of which was a beautiful
cornfield. I got a feed for my team out of it. Forded the creek
below Tom Brown's Mill. The regiment halted, stacked arms,
took off shoes, stockings and pants, then waded in it. It was
a rare sight, several hundred men walking through at once, bare

[122]

1863] A RICH COUNTRY

legged, their unmentionables thrown over shoulder and musket
high in the air. The water was waist deep and quite cold.
To any but soldiers it would be a serious necessity. They took
it very as a lark, each one vieing with the other to make the
more noise by the way of singing, hooting, plunging, etc. Came
into camp on the bank of the creek in a pretty grove half an
hour of sundown. 2nd Brigade here ahead of us. Y— - tied
to the gun all day with two feet of rope, for mutinous conduct
and offering violence to officer.

Near Fayetteville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 7. 2nd Brigade
started at 6 A. M. We followed at 8 A. M. struck a macad
amized road a mile from camp which we followed five miles.
The road runs from , a beautiful road high and dry. Ex
tensive fields of corn on all sides. Most wealthy country we
have seen. Elegant houses of frame and brick. Left the road
a quarter of a mile from Elkton and struck north along hilly
ridges, very stony and rough. Came into camp at 5 P. M. on
a high point, five miles from Fayetteville in Lincoln County.
Drew fresh meat from commissary, but we had no salt to cook,
no salt in the Division. The timber to-day was mostly beach,
grew very tall and large, beautiful timber loaded with nuts, and
we ate many. Sugar cane of sorghum kind raised on a small
scale by nearly all, I suppose to supply the deficiency occa
sioned by the Confederacy. Small wooden mills. Vertical
rollers used to press it. Slept in the open air, not thinking it
worth while to put up tent.

Fayetteville, Sunday, Nov. 8. A chilly cold night. Froze
half an inch of ice on water, but we slept warm. Moved out
early. Had a very long and steep hill to climb. Several of
the teams failed, but ours came out all right. My off horse was
put on the wheel in place of the one there, whose shoulder had
been worn raw. Marched weary and slow through a hilly coun
try. Most of the valleys were all under cultivation and very

[123]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

full of excellent corn, but a small proportion of it husked. I
think the corn crop here will far exceed the best of Wisconsin's
in number and quality. It is perfectly sound and untouched
by frost. The road was very winding but not as rough as be
fore. Came into camp two miles from Fayetteville before sun
down, with materials for a good supper and plenty of corn for
horses. 2nd Brigade camped here, and the 3rd Brigade came
up late.

Fayetteville, Monday, Nov. 9. I laid in camp all day. 2nd
Division came up on another road. One day's rations of crack
ers issued to us. The infantry regiments are entirely out.
Mills were worked all day grinding cornmeal. Lieutenant
Amsdeii of the 12th Battery went out with squad of Battery
boys to pick up horses by order of Captain Dillon. Keturned
late at night with twenty mules and ten or twelve horses, but
mostly too young for team purposes. We got one very pretty
horse for our Platoon. They report abundance of all good
things off from the road where " Yankee " vandals have not
reached, with no end to come. No wonder that the robs are
making a desperate effort for the recapture of tin's country.
We are in their very granary and without it they cannot live.
A report is rife that Thomas has evacuated Chattanooga, but I
trust it is not so. I would write, but there is no communication
open yet.

Camp in Oak Barrens, Term., Tuesday, Nov. 10. Prepared for
an early march. Moved at 9 A. M. as we had to wait for the 2nd
Brigade to move ahead. Passed through town, which is an ©Id
fashioned place of quite a size. Looks as though it was the
same twenty years ago. Of course it was perfectly dead, no
sign of trade or purchase of any kind. Crossed Elk River two
miles from the town on the best bridge 1 ever saw. It is built
of solid stone all hewed, five arches, with a foot path on top of
each side wall. It is but a single track erected in 1861. Poor

[ 124 ]

1863J HARD GOING

country! After we left the river valley, nearly deserted fields
lie idle. About noon we entered the Oak Barrens, so called
from its sterility. It is a perfectly flat tract of land with a
yellow clay soil. Oak openings, no underbrush, the oak not
very large. It lies lower than the surrounding country and
covered with pond holes which we rendered bottomless with a
little travel, the wheels cut down so. No houses or fields to be
seen. AYent into camp in the first field we saw for five miles,
and that was deserted. 4th Platoon wheel horse fell dead to
night before it came to camp. He was the biggest and best
horse of the Battery, supposed to be overdone. Train of cars
passed out on the Fayetteville branch loaded with crackers for
our camp. It was escorted by two regiments of Slocum's Corps,
the New York and Pennsylvania regiments. Mail received. I
got letter from home of the 25th ult., so we are once more ap
proaching the Union lines. No news or paper seen save wild
camp rumors which are conflicting. No corn to feed our horses
to-night. I am on guard.

Winchester, Tenn., Wednesday, Nov. 11. Called up at 4 A. M.
Harnessed before daylight. The horses covered with frost.
Cold work for bare hands. Started as soon as daylight; about
seven miles more of barrens without a house or trace of civiliza
tion. Slough holes very often, the pioneer corps bridging many
of them while we waded through the others. Four or five
horses gave out before we got through. Three left behind.
Came out of there by noon on higher ground, well settled, but
not very productive. Citizens look decidedly Secesh. Passed
Salem at 2 P. M., two overshot waterwheels and a tower. Came
into camp within two miles of Winchester at sundown. We
are within our own lines. The Army of the Cumberland has
a force stationed here, among which is the 1st Wisconsin Cav
alry. Drew one day's rations of crackers.

Winchester, Thursday, Nov. 12. Lay in camp all day. 3rd
Brigade came up early. The weather very raw and blustering.

[1251

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

Forage trains went out seven miles and returned loaded with
good corn. Wrote two letters but no mail came in. To-morrow
we are to start across the mountains. If half of what is said
of it be true, we will have hard times to cross it with our teams.
The cavalry say we will not be able to cros^ it in two days. 1st
Brigade of Stanley's Cavalry Division is here. Winchester is
the county seat of Franklin County and a good business town
as large as Fayetteville. Mr. Lester brought Nashville papers
of to-day into camp, the first we have seen since the 22nd of
last month.

Camp on the mountains, Friday, Nov. 13. Broke carup at
Winchester before daylight and moved out in advance of the
other brigades. Crossed the R. R. south of Decherd and kept
along the track southeast until we reached Cowan Station, when
we travelled toward the hills. Halted half an hour to strip the
chest of all knapsacks, the cannoneers being obliged to carry
everything after the style of infantry. At about half past
twelve o'clock we mounted and started up the mountain. The
foot was covered with white large stones smooth as ice. Both
of my horses fell the first pull, but soon gathered and we made
the ascent in about two hours. The road was very stony and
most of the horses poorly shod, very steep in places, but we
made it without an accident or a balk, although four of our
teams had a span of mules in. The General and staff were very
much scared, it is said, and thought it not safe to ride up so
they dismounted, lamenting our fate, but our horses did it all
right. The road followed the summit which was perfectly level,
rather sandy. Passed two or three houses inhabited, but I
know not how. Came into camp ; old camping ground, first
rebel and then federal. Had but one load of corn for to-night
and to-morrow morning, so we had but eight ears to a horse.
Drew two little crackers in the morning which was all we had
till the wagons came up late at night, and we were a set of very
hungry boys. Sow belly and hard-tack went as good as the best

[126]

1863] OVER THE MOUNTAINS

of suppers at home. Camp as merry as ever, singing and
cracking jokes by the bright camp fires, although we were weak
in the center.

Sweden's Cove, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 14. Reveille sounded
at 5 A. M. A very dark and cloudy morning, not a star to be
seen or ray of daylight. Fed our hard-worked horses a scant feed
of twelve ears of corn to a team, cleaned them off and harnessed.
Coffee and crackers for breakfast. 2nd Brigade stationed in
front. Followed the 2nd. Camped at the foot of the hill last
night. Commenced to rain very heavy as we hitched up and
it continued until noon, with loud peals of thunder and vivid
lightning. The road ran along the summit for about five miles
which was very muddy and hard to travel. Commenced the
descent about 1 P. M. which was not as laborious but far more
dangerous. The cavalry that crossed let the wagons down by
rope, but we locked wheels, and about two miles brought us to
the bottom, very stony and steeper than the other side. So we
were over Raccoon Mountain of the Cumberland Range, consid
erably higher than Point Judith, and we crossed in the lowest
point. We were now in a narrow valley not a mile wide, all
under cultivation, but now idle, called "Sweden's Cove". The
first trace of civilization that met the soldier eye was a hog, the
next a corn crib. Due attention paid to both, the cannoneers
charged on the pigs and the drivers filled their nose bags.
Camped at the headwaters of Battle Creek. Health of all good
and spirits also.

Camp near Bridgeport, Ala., Sunday, Nov. 15. Moved out in
park this morning. Kept along the bank of Battle Creek un
der the sunlit brink of the mountain. 10 A. M. the Tennes
see River appeared before us and we entered the Sequatchie
Valley. Followed it down stream. This was the ford that
Bragg retreated over, and where Rosecrans's small Division
were picked off from across the river. Extensive fortification

[127]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

erected here but vacant. Telegraph line up here which com
municates with Chattanooga. The valley is narrow but appar
ently fertile. Neat houses here, but the fences all gone and
fields open. After passing through a very bad swamp we came
into "Camp Proper." At this point it is a mile and a half
from what is called Bridgeport. Good water, no rails. Put up
harness racks, tents in line, etc. Drew oats for the horses to
night, but scant. A large mail arrived and to see the eagerness
with which all pressed around the pile would have convinced
everyone that although roughened by usage and inured to hard
ship, and mayhap contracted that which is not befitting, yet
the# hearts are filled with the love of home and friends. I
was jubilant over the receipt of three letters, one from my ever
faithful correspondent John, the other from my sister Ellen
and the rest from an old schoolmate.

Bridgeport, Monday, Nov. 16. A beautiful sunny morning.
Did not get up till broad daylight, which was a strange thing.
The first thing attended to, now that we were in hopes of a few
days' rest, was changing and washing. I changed throughout,
and Evie and myself passed to the creek with ax, fire buckets,
etc. My washing consisted of a pair pants, shirt, two pairs of
socks and towels. Quite a washer-woman. After dinner Cousin
Griffith, E. W. E. and myself took a ride down town. I mounted
Rodney and off we went. We failed to find a building but
found Bridgeport, which is certainly a city of tents. All of it
is in tents. Sutler's stores and bakeries are plenty, but so
crowded by the soldiers that it was impossible to get a hearing
anywhere. I tried hard to get a pie, but there were hundreds
pressing in for the same, and I gave it up as a bad job. Bought
a blank book and started back to a large tent upon a hill with
the sign "Army Hotel" which furnished meals for 75 cents.

The Charleston and Memphis Road crosses the river here, but
the bridge was destroyed by General Mitchel a year ago, and
not yet completed. A day force is at work on it and teams

[128]

A GROUP OF COMR\DES ix STH "Wiscoxsix BATTERY

1863] BOYS FROM HOME

are hauling timber in all directions. It is a patent t
like those across the Wisconsin, the R. R. on top and wagon
road below it. A pontoon bridge is stretched across below
it until the bridge is finished. The cars go no further than
here, which is the nearest point to Chattanooga, twenty-
eight miles by R. R. and forty by land. All supplies are
hauled to camp, long way yet, by mule teams and two small
steamboats. A large number of artillery horses have been sent
back to be fed. Horses and mules look much worse than ours
after the inarch. The llth and 12th Army Corps under Gen
eral Hooker are across the river from here, which makes a total
of three corps within supporting distance of Chattanooga.
Heavy artillery firing could be heard this morning from that
vicinity. Stevenson nine miles west of here.

Bridgeport, Tuesday, Nov. 17. In camp. Warm and pleas
ant morning. No feed for horses. W. Hayes, Ed. Hayes, J.
Ide, H. and D. Wallace returned from furlough, having fol
lowed us up to luka, then being obliged to return and go up the
river by the way of Nashville. They came up on the cars this
morning with plump and rosy cheeks. The boys greeted them
with enthusiasm going to meet them from afar off. They were
from HOME. Orders received at headquarters to send a com
missioned officer and non-commissioned or private out on re
cruiting service. Of course much eagerness was manifested as
to who should go. Many applications made I understood, but
Lieutenant Hood and Sergeant Hamilton are the elected ones.
I understand a like detail is to be made from each Company,
but I doubt if they will bring 4^ack as many as go. The 4th
Division crossed the river to-day. It is reported that we follow
in the morning, leaving all wagons behind. Carriages were
greased ready for the start. Wrote letters to brother Thomas
and sister Mary. Am very anxious to hear from home. Ere
this the draft has passed and I know not but the only stay and
comfort of my aged and invalid parents is rudely torn from

9 [ 129 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

them. If such is the case, and I here in front of the enemy
with my destiny unknown, I fear it will bring their gray iiairs
to the grave. God forbid! If he but be spared I will be sat
isfied, although I know not but that I have another year to
serve after the Battery is mustered out. It is hard for me to
think of the years going in this manner, when I had fondly
hoped a part at least would be spent in the schoolroom, but I
believe it is not lost. He that followeth his duty need not
worry. His reward is certain, and it is truly a noble cause in
which we are engaged. From the front I have heard nothing.
It is reported that the rebs are withdrawing but I do not credit
it.

We started one month ago to-day. Twenty of these days were
on the road; 240 miles have been travelled. We have been
transferred from the Army of the Tennessee to the Army of
the Cumberland, and all of our record from this on will be with
them.

Sequatchie Valley, Ala., Wednesday, Nov. 18. Reveille sound
ed before dawn and we were ordered to prepare to march, but
they knew not at what hour. All baggage that could be spared
was ordered to be left with camp guard. The knapsacks were
to be left, but as the cannoneers did not feel disposed to lose
all of them as at Vicksburg, they all strapped them on their
backs to "tote 'em". Failed to draw but one load of forage,
so a vacant wagon was left and the knapsacks packed in. much
to the satisfaction of all. Hitched up at 6 A. M. Marched on
to the hill where the infantry were encamped. The 2nd and
3rd Brigades had started, leaving tents standing. We were in
the rear and compelled to lie in the road until 2 P. M. In the
meantime a large mail was distributed. I received four letters,
all from home, which of course were very acceptable. Moved
down to the river where our Division had been crossing all day
on the pontoon. No more than four wagons allowed on at a
time, hence a tedious job. • 4 P. M. we moved on to it. It con-

[130]

1863J UNDER LOOKOUT

sists of a firm scow boat anchored every sixteen feet and string
ers laid across, over which were laid twelve-foot plank. It was
narrow and shaky, but a tight rein and careful driving brought
us over all safe. Had to cross two of them, an island occupied
by Hooker's men in the middle of the river. Men busy at work
on R. R. bridge, but not near finished. Came to a halt two
miles from the river and lay there over an hour to wait for the
train to cross. Large fires were built and the infantry cooked
their coffee in their little cans. It was quite dark before the
bugle sounded and we marched on at a brisk rate till 9 P. M.
Our road lay through the Sequatchie Valley, which was pretty
well under cultivation, watered by a large stream coming out of
the solid rock a few yards above us, one spring furnishing
water enough to run a flouring mill. A large cave was close
by, which is reported to be a curiosity, thirteen miles long, out
of which saltpetre is dug, but I could not visit it. Unhitched
our weary and hungry horses having had nothing but two
quarts of corn all day, and but a scant feed last night. Made
our bed in the open air and piled in supperless.

Lookout Mountain, Tenn., Thursday, Nov. 19. Reveille woke
us at 4 A. M. Slept cold. A heavy frost covers the ground
thie morning. Marched before the cooks got breakfast ready,
so we had to take dry grub. Took the Chattanooga road and
marched leisurely down, coming to the end of the valley ; the
mountains and the river coming together. Our road lay along
the bank, and the R. R. several hundred feet above us, some
times running over a precipice and then over stilty-like bridges.
An engine ran by us here. We next left the river and soon
entered the hills, winding through the valleys and crossing stony
points, which was very slow and laborious as our horses were
jaded out and hard to keep up. A few inhabitants were seen
but they could not find much to live on. 4-th Corps stationed
through the valley as guards, each squad already located in
neat " shebangs". Passed Sand Mountain at noon, a force be-

[131]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

ing stationed upon it, the very high bridge having been de
stroyed near by and not yet commenced to be built. The R. R.
is in bad condition and will require a good deal of labor before
it will be rebuilt. A large part of it is laid with wooden rails,
an iron plate fastened on top. Coal abounds in the hills. We
passed a large bed of nitre, out of which saltpetre was man
ufactured for Confederate States' use.

Came in sight of Lookout Ridge about 4 P. M., and at sun
down we were directly under the enemy's line, their picket fires
burning brightly not more than half a mile off. Did they but
have the artillery they could soon shell us out. The roads are
very bad, filled with slough holes some of which were bridged.
8 P. M. halted nearly an hour to allow the pioneer corps to re
pair the roads. Most of the boys made coffee. Hard-tack very
scarce. I had none since dinner. After the roads were fixed
we moved out and marched about four miles right under the
point of the guns which could not be brought to bear on us.
We passed by Joe Hooker's headquarters. It was a very beau
tiful evening, bright moonlight, and pleasant marching. Came
into camp at 11:30 P. M., our horses having nearly given out.
When the wagons came .up we fed horses and drew crackers,
but I was not as hungry as sleepy, so I laid down in the open
air with Point Lookout frowning in full view, on which is a
battery of heavy guns that at any moment could hurl terror to
our Corps.

With Grant at Chattanooga

Camp in the pocket opposite Chattanooga, Friday, Nov. 20.
Scarcely had we closed our eyes to rest, before we were aroused
again. Many of the boys had not laid down. It was half past
one o'clock in the morning. We were ordered to hitch up in
great haste. The rebs were crossing the Tennessee River at
some point, and we were to intercept them. Nothing but a

[132]

1863 j A NIGHT MARCH

prospect of fight would have aroused the sleepy and tired sol
diers as quick, and 2 A. M. we moved out, all wagons, battery
wagon and forge left behind. It was clear and cold and I was
chilled through by my sudden rising from a warm bed. We
gradually disappeared from Point Lookout where the rebs' sig
nal lights were dimly burning. The road was mostly cordu
royed and very good, but some places not finished very badly
cut. 1st caisson got stuck and it took nearly half an hour to
extricate. The cannoneers in mud and slush above their knees.
While they were getting out, the other boys took hold and com
pleted the bridge.

As it drew near morning it became darker. Crossed the river
on pontoon two miles from where we started. It started right
under the rock and it was quite difficult to make the landing
with six horses. 3rd Brigade's camp was on the bank. They
had just started. Head of column took the road towards Chat
tanooga and obliged to come back as we left it to the right.
2nd caisson lost the road in the dark, ran against a stump and
capsized. It took some time to extricate the horses and right
it. It was loaded with percussion shells, but luckily none ex
ploded. Infantry got the start of us and we drove very fast.
Daylight found us travelling east through a very pretty valley
formerly used as a camp. No infantry in sight. As smoke
was seen in a pocket to the right, Lieutenant Clark halted, and
sent to see if it was not our Brigade, which we found to be the-
case. We entered it, found the 3rd Brigade closely quartered..
Went into park and ordered to remain quiet and orderly.
Cooked an early breakfast, although we had travelled eight
miles beside the other exploits. Wagons came up at 9 A. M.
and we fed the last of our forage, four quarts of oats to a team.

The boys were soon scattered around making up for lost sleep,
but I thought I would see our position, so I climbed the bin if
to the right of us. Chattanooga could be seen very plain right
opposite, near the other side of the river. To the rifrht of it

[133]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1863

was Lookout, towering high above all others, with the puffs of
powder smoke vomited occasionally from their Parrott. To the
left I could see smoky Mission Ridge crossed with reb encamp
ments. Those with glasses could discern long wagon trains and
pack mules climbing up Lookout. I returned well-paid for my
labor, although I afterwards understood it was forbidden. We
are effectually hidden. Guards are placed over all houses to
prevent anyone leaving. A pontoon train is passing. Heavy
rain in afternoon. Put up tents and went to bed early.

Near Chattanooga, Saturday, Nov. 21. Awoke to find it had
been raining very heavy all night. Our ditch overflowed and
the water flowed into the tent under the bed wetting the blan
kets, making sleeping a troublesome matter anywhere. I got
up, wrung my blankets and watched the rain. After break
fast harnessed our horses. As we have no feed they look very
bad, indeed nearly all the halter stails on the rope were eaten
off last night. I got a set of chain ones from the Battery
wagon. Company cooks played out and rations issued to pla
toons. Boys all hail it gladly.

10 A. M. Two teams went to Chattanooga after forage. E.
W. E. went on detail. Tried to write a letter, but it is so very
cold that 1 made but little progress.

3 P. M. A circular has just been received from General Sher
man to hold ourselves in readiness to march at any moment.
Three days' cooked rations and one blanket is all that is to be
taken along, the ambulances to follow to the river and there
await orders. The enemy have been playing from Lookout all
day and it is told that sharp musketry is going on, but that
general engagement will probably not come off until we cross the
river, which it is said we will do to-night if the rain will not
sweep off our pontoon. The crisis is fast approaching and it
cannot be long ere we meet in deadly contest ; of the final result
I have but little doubt. I am confident in the ability of those
contesting for the right. But alas! many must of necessity

U341

18631 AWAITING BATTLE

close their eyes in death. It is not for me to ask whom or when,
but to trust to Him that noticeth the fall of a sparrow, and en
deavor to do my duty. I pray that strength may be given me
to meet my fate with courage.

8 P. M. It is night. The teams have returned without any
feed. They met M. L. Smith's Division on the bridge and they
could not cross. Three sacks of grain was got at Division head
quarters which gave us a small feed. Wagon went to draw ra
tions at the commissary but could not get any. I have written
a letter home and will now lie down and sleep with an easy
mind until called upon. I am read}7 when the word comes.

Near Chattanooga, Sunday, Nov. 22. Awoke to find a bright
and beautiful morning and the air was as balmy as a May
morning in "Wisconsin. Did not rain as expected and no indi
cations of it in particular. Preaching announced at 10 A. M.
by the Chaplain of the 18th Wisconsin. I thought it was more
my duty to write to anxious hearts than attend. Wrote one to
sister Hannah and commenced one to brother Thomas, but was
called on guard before finishing it, Sherman's chief of artil
lery went with Captain Dillon to pick out a road for battery.

3 P. M. Before I came off guard we endeavored to pack
everything except our blankets and stow them away. Soon
ordered to take up our horses, (which were browsing) clean
them off and harness up. Our valises were taken off and blan
kets strapped instead.

5 P. M. Cogswell's Battery started out and we soon fol
lowed, 12th in the rear. Lieutenant Hubbard of the 3rd Bat
tery came to camp as we left, and I shook hands with him as I
drove by. Professor Silsby is also here with his Heavy Battery
direct from the State, but I did not see him. Moved toward
the river, passed the pontoon train and halted near the river
out of sight of the enemy. Unhitched and unharnessed, and
ordered to lie down with no noise, no fires to be built.

It is now eight o'clock and I am on post. I write by the

[135]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

light of the moon. The Heavy Battery and the 12th are busy
at work throwing up earthworks. We are to be thrown across
with the first infantry that goes. It is expected by all that it
is going to be hot and terrible work. My blood is cold as I con
template the bloodshed.

Near Chattanooga, Monday, Nov. 23. I had just completed
writing last night when an officer rode up (Sherman's stall)
and inquired for the commanding officers. The boys were im
mediately called up, harnessed up and returned to camp. The
upper pontoon broke so as to prevent the 4th and 1st Divisions
of the Corps from crossing the river, which rendered it neces
sary to postpone it for twenty- four hours. Arrived at camp
and pitched our tents. This morning cloudy and smoky, indi
cations of rain. Ewing's Battery passed towards the river.
Eight batteries passed by last night. Had we crossed this
morning, they would all have met on the other side, which
would be undoubtedly a lively time. Morgan L. Smith was to
cross above us and form his line, meeting on Chickamauga
Creek, and our left on it. The infantry drew shovels last night
and were ordered to take possession of the heights and then for
tify. A team sent to headquarters at 7 A. M. to go to Kelly's
Bend for forage. One sent yesterday evening. Neither of
them yet returned. Completed my letter to Thomas.

3 P. M. Heavy volleys of musketry are heard in the direc
tion of Chattanooga, which is said by a correspondent passing
by to be a reconnoitering party to ascertain if they are evacu
ating, which is supposed to be the case. But T don't credit it.

5 P. M. A fierce engagement is in progress. Since my last
writing the well-timed volleys soon grew into a continual rattle,
and the cannonading fell heavy and fast. I climbed the bluff
as soon as possible to take a better view. Here I found the
summit covered with spectators, and every tree loaded as with
grapes. The lines most of the time were enveloped in smoke,
and we could not discern which were the gainers. The firing

[136]

1863] THE "BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS

commenced well on to the right in the rear of Chattanooga, but
fast crossed over toward the left. The artillery's roar, rever
berating through the valleys and from mountains, made a deep
and impressive sound as though the whole country was in con
vulsion. From Lookout the heaviest guns were fired. The
flash could be seen as it vomited its load of destruction twenty-
two seconds before the report arrived, and its echo was answered
by half a dozen smaller guns from Moccasin Point in quick
succession ; but it was so much lower I do not think it was of
much effect. Two distinct charges were made (I know not by
which party) and the musketry fire unceasing, and heavy col
umns of fresh smoke arose, a pall for those departed to their
eternal rest. As I sat upon the brow of that eminence I could
think of the many groans that were now uttered on the field of
strife, where friend and foe lay as an equal in the gore of their
own blood, while many more lay with the ghastliness of death
upon their features, that but a few hours before beamed with
life and animation, and whose hearts melted with love and
hopes in the future. Sad ! sad ! But it does not stop here. How
many hearts will bleed. How many mothers' hearts will be
heavy in anguish when the news will reach them of the fate of
their offspring and object of their care and love. How little is
this realized by the crowd surrounding. Their thoughts are
light and trifling; they think not of death or futurity. Re
moved from all destruction, accustomed to look at death as of
minor importance, they feel not the due importance. But such
is war. Although a soldier and inured to meet the foe with de
termination and calmness, I must say, Oh what a cruel and
wicked thing is war! A deer ran along the mountain and the
attention of the masses was drawn from the conflict and glee
fully passed to the animal. This was not in keeping with the
state of my mind, and I left and returned to my tent, the mus
ketry having nearly ceased.

1 137 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

Mission Ridge, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 24. Marched to our posi
tion of night before last, unhitched and unharnessed. Laid down
till 1 A. M. when we were awakened and ordered to hitch up.
No noise allowed to be made. The pontooners marched by on
quick time with axes, etc. Cogswell's Battery moved out and
took position in the front. We soon followed in breathless si
lence, entered an open field and followed it up nearly half a
mile, when we came upon the column of infantry moving along
in close order and very fast. Not a breath could be heard,
nothing but the grating of their feet on the gravel was to be
heard. Never did a more earnest or thoughtful column move
to meet the enemy. The column proceeded to the river, and we
went into battery in the field thirty rods from the bank. The
infantry were ferried across in the pontoon boats. One divi
sion was already across. Contrary to all expectations not a
gun was fired, and we could hear nothing from our position of
the advancing column. The out-post guard were gobbled up by
surprise and sent over on this side. One escaped and carried
the alarm that the Yankees were corning, which was not be
lieved. But the officer of the day with seventeen men reconnoit-
ered the grounds, and they too were "taken in out of the wet"
and taken across and put in charge of the guard of the 5th
Wisconsin Battery, they being stationed in a bastion on the
bank. The out-post very innocently told the story that upon
hearing a rustle in the brush which he challenged with a

''Halt! Hush you d fool you, the Yankees are right here

upon us. ' The fust thing I knew you 'uns hed me. ' ' While our
Division was crossing, long trains of pontoons came up there
with a long line of snow-white ambulances which caused the
anxious question — "Who will be obliged to be borne in these
from the field of battle?" Then came the hospital train, a
wagon for each regiment in the Division, loaded with stores to
establish a Division hospital.

[138]

1863J LINE TO LINE

6 A. M. Two divisions were safely across and a more beau
tiful scene I never witnessed. Through the gray dawn a long
line of infantry could be seen drawn up on the opposite banks
a mile long, while the waters were covered with boats busily
going and coming, loaded with men, the regimental colors stand
ing in the center of the boat. The bridge was now covered,
boats brought up, anchored in line, and the floor laid without
any delay, the 4th Division marching in the boats and the ar
tillery covering the field. Fires were allowed to be built now
and we soon had coffee. It commenced raining, as cold and
disagreeable as the day could be. A steamboat was due at 4
A. M. to take us across, but did not come till 6:30 A. M. (an
old rebel boat, but rebuilt). Taylor's Battery crossed the river
first, and as we were not pressed we waited for the bridge to be
built. It was very disagreeable, and I felt almost sick ; late
hours and irregular meals having brought on diarrhea, etc. A
large constellation of stars were gathered on the bank, watching
the progress of the bridge, among which were Sherman, Blair,
W. F. Smith, chief engineer, etc. The line on the other side
in one hour had a line of breastworks up and advanced out of
sight to form another.

12 M. The bridge completed and we crossed it, being the
second battery to do so. The dread of crossing had passed.
Halted at a corn crib and the cannoneers got as much corn as
they could, but the infantry was formed and advanced in col
umn of division at secure arms, it raining very heavy. This
savage-looking column moved forward with caution, crossed a
forty-acre lot and halted. The skirmishers went out but not a
gun was fired. Advanced again, the batteries were in colurmi
of sections. An occasional gun shot, but we advanced until v,
were directly under Mission Ridge. Not a reb seen and our
infantry soon climbed it. Our line formed on the brow when
the artillery moved up. Battery D, 1st Missouri was the first
up and soon opened fire on them from the right. Our Battery

[139]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [i863

started for the left. The * ' smooth bores ' ' were left on the other
side of the river for want of horses, and we had four teams on
a carriage, but the hill was too steep for us and two more teams
were put on the pieces, and caissons left behind. A detail of
two hundred men were sent to our aid with axes, the enemy
sending shells over us quite thick. 1st piece failed to advance
with the horses. Hopes brought forward and it was hauled up
by hand, we following with all haste. By this time a very
brisk skirmishing was going on right to our left and rear quite
close, and General Matthies came down at the head of his Bri
gade on double quick, the old general on foot, making fine time.
Captain Dillon ordered the howitzer section and Cogswell's
Battery to the rear in all haste. The extra teams were un
hitched and the pieces unlimbered, and with great difficulty we
made a left about, the hill being so steep that it shoved our
horses down amongst the infantry that were pouring down.
But the cannoneers fastened a rope to the axle-tree, and down
we went in good earnest. Halted at the R. R. crossing in a
complete jam of infantry, artillery and ambulances near Gen
eral Smith's headquarters, who knew nothing of our movements
and demanded by whose orders we came down. A flank
movement by General Longstreet was apprehended, and we
were to guard it by order of General Sherman. We stood there
in the cold damp evening for half an hour, got a feed of shelled
corn from an out-house close by, when we moved back into the
first field above General Matthies, and came into camp alongside
of Cogswell's Battery and the 2nd and 3rd Brigades of our
Division. Unhitched but did not unharness. Our rations were
entirely out with the exception of coffee and some cornmeal
picked up, so we ate hastily of unsifted mush and coffee.

Three drivers from each piece sent after sheaf oats for horses.
I was on the detail and we rode back nearly three miles toward
the river. Found the oats all gone, but plenty of good tame
hay, of which we took as much as possible. Returned to camp

F1401

1863J MISSION RIDGE

by 9 P. M. I was nearly exhausted from cold and loss of sleep,
having been up since 1 A. M. Lay down in cold and wet blan
kets.

Mission Ridge, Wednesday, Nov. 25. Called up before three
in the morning to feed. Suffered very much from cold during
the night. The blankets stiff with frost over us. Witnessed an
almost total eclipse of the moon and again lay down, but no
sleep.

6 A. M. McCook's Brigade of Davis 's Division formed in
line of battle facing to the left and supporting our artillery,
should it be necessary. 1st Section (rifles) reported to be well
fortified on the ridge.

9 A. M. Not much fighting as yet, the pickets advancing and
skirmishing. A reb battery shells directly over and in rear.
One shell twelve-pounder time-fuse dropped ahead of our team
and was dug up by the boys. A mule team came up and issued
one day's rations of hard-tack.

11 A. M. The 2nd and 3rd Brigades went in on double quick
followed by the llth Corps with crescents flying, a fine looking
body of men, but are looked on rather suspiciously by our
sturdy veterans. They went in and advanced towards the reb
els' works on Tunnel Hill, and musketry rattled very severe.

Prom that time [till] late in the evening a terrible struggle
followed, wounded men coming back thick and fast. Our posi
tion was such that we could not witness the field and we were
not permitted to leave the teams an instant. Our loss is very
heavy especially in officers. The struggle on our side was for the
occupation of Tunnel Hill and our line advanced up the steep
side of the bluff time after time, but were obliged to fall back,
the rebels being reinforced all the time, and could pick them off
with ease, the lay of the land being such that they succeeded
in flanking the llth Corps, and they fell back in disorder. But
they were received by the 2nd and 3rd Brigade of our Division,
and soon compelled to retire.

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

More desperate fighting, it is said by those who witnessed,
they had never seen. Our line being for hours under the enemy
they rolled stones upon us, wounding many. Three companies
of the 5th Iowa were taken prisoners, having used up all their
ammunition and would not run. Artillery could not be brought
to much use, and my feelings as I staid under that hill, listen
ing to the noise and rattle of the fight, mingled with suppressed
cheers of charging parties, and the groans of the wounded as
they passed in the long trains of ambulances, or the lighter
wounded hobbling back a-foot with bleeding and mangled limbs,
I cannot describe in words. General Matthies was wounded in
the head while leading his Brigade on to the charge. I saw him
ride to the rear covered with blood. Colonel Putnam of the
93rd Illinois was killed instantly while waving the colors in
front of his men, a noble and much loved officer. The 90th Illi
nois and 73rd Pennsylvania were literally cut to pieces, and
their officers all killed or wounded.

The day closed, and the dark mantle of night was spread
over the gory fields. We have gained nothing in the shape of
ground all day, but their slaughter must be terrible. Thomas
and Hooker were at them all day and it is reported gained gre^t
advantage. We had to fight the main body of the army. Look
out was taken yesterday, 2500 prisoners and three pieces of ar
tillery. To-morrow if they stand, will be a final and awful test
of strength. Sherman, cool and deliberate, is ready for them.
Got corn to feed on the battle-field.

Mission Ridge, Thursday, Nov. 26. After we retired last
night with horses unharnessed, a courier came in hot haste with
the report "The enemy is coming down upon us in double col
umns". We were ready to give them a warm reception on
short notice, but they did not come, and again we laid down,
but left the harness on. They will not catch us napping. It
was a chilly, cold night and we suffered much from cold bed.
But little rest during the night, and at 3 A. M. we were called

[142]

1863] FLIGHT OF BRAGG

up to feed, which was more of a relief than otherwise. But no
man grumbled or complained as we thought of our wounded
who lay on the field all night with no covering, and weak from
the loss of blood. Their groans could be heard by our men all
night, and the friends in rebellion would not permit them' to
carry relief to them or bring them in. The enemy occupied the
contested ground. One, who had a brother lying on the field,
started with the determination of relieving him or die in the
attempt. True to his determination he was shot dead by the
inhuman wretches who would not listen to his plea. Their pun
ishment will be great.

A dense fog settled as the morning approached, so that it
was impossible to discern objects two rods distant. Troops com
menced pouring down the hill early. The 1st Section joined us.
At first we thought it was maneuvering for the day's battle,
but the truth was soon known. The wounded pelican of the
South had flown during the night, and all their boasts and
threats of the re-occupation of East Tennessee has ended in a
retreat. We were to go on the chase. The llth Corps swung
around on their rear and flanked their line of retreat, while the
15th Corps reached back to the Tennessee River, and crossed
Chickamauga Creek on the pontoon. Halted on the bank two
hours to give the advance time to cross. Grazed our horses.
10 A. M. we crossed the bridge in rear of the 1st Brigade. The
infantry moved more still and quiet than usual. Thus they
come but miss their comrades that fell in yesterday's engage
ment. Our Division lost * * * killed and wounded. A
marked change is to be seen in its ranks. Marched lively the
rest of the day through the Chickamauga Valley. The troops
were entirely out of rations, the infantry many of them having
had nothing to eat but parched corn on which they fought for
two days and intrenched by night with pick and spade. Halted
at 5. P. M. an hour for supper. Shelled corn was got in plenty
for horses from Secesh camp, but the boys many of them supped

[143]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

on corn and coffee. Artillery firing could be heard in the dis
tance which told us that we were upon their rear.

Moved on till 9 P. M. through Chickamauga Station, where
large piles of corn were in a blaze. Twelve thousand bushels
of corn are said to be burned here, and a large quantity of corn-
meal left of which we were lucky enough to get a good supply.
The road for miles was white with meal, spilled as they ran.
Caisson bodies left and several blown up. Took twenty-one
howitzer shells from one of them into our chests. Came into
camp in an open field in rear of the llth Corps. Made our
beds in the leaves and slept sweet till morning light.

Graysville, Ga., Friday, Nov. 27. Started at 8 A. M. Our
march lay through a poor country, thinly settled, covered with
small pine, swampy soil. All along the road evidence could be
seen of the haste of the enemy. Wagons, limbers, wheels, har
ness, etc. left, but all were destroyed. Keached Graysville at
3 P. M. and came into camp on a steep hillside, a lively little
R. R. station on Chickamauga Creek, good water power, cab
inet works and flouring mill. The latter was kept running by
soldiers of the llth Corps. A range of mountains commenced
here, and our advance came upon the rear of the enemy here
this morning, capturing a battery commanded by Beauregard's
son. It was harnessed up and ready to move. General Thomas
manned it with infantry, took it after them. A brisk fight
could be heard at Ringgold, five miles distant. Prisoners and
deserters came in thick and fast from every direction. They
say they are tired of running and being hunted like beasts.
Bragg promised victory and gain to them, instead of which they
received nothing but a dastardly retreat and shame with empty
bellies.

Foragers doing a good business in the shape of geese, chick
ens, sheep, etc., few hogs. I was sent by Dixon after hay for
the horses. Went about two miles south, and returned with a

[144]

1863] AFTER BRAGG

good bundle, quite tired in carrying it, but horses fared well
for it.

Sat up till late cooking "dodgers" for the morrow's march.
It looked like rain, so we ditched about our bed, spread our
ponchos over and laid down, tired and sleepy, and I felt nearly
worn out, but the thought of following a retreating line kept
up my strength and spirit.

Near Chattanooga, Saturday, Nov. 28. Reveille aroused the
dreaming camp at 3 A. M. It had been raining nearly all
night, but we slept dry and well. Feed call. One of my horses
missing. Walked up and down the hills and hollows for over
an hour in the search. At last found him. I found breakfast
ready, consisting of coffee, corn cake and fresh mutton, which I
devoured with a keen appetite. 5 A. M. we started. We were
to go back, and faced in that direction. We were glad of it,
as both we and the horses were too much worn out to follow,
and the roads were getting very bad with the rain and late
ness of the season. The excitement was much less. We marched
with more labor than if following the enemy, but we knew that
plenty of others were on their track, and Bragg 's forces scat
tered, he taking three different roads, showing that he did not
intend to risk a general engagement with Grant very soon.
Raining heavy all day. The roads very bad and we had much
trouble to get along with artillery. All of the batteries of the
15th Corps not in inarching condition. Returned with the 3rd
Division in charge of Captain Dillon, which were five besides
our own. Stopped at Chickamauga Station at noon to feed,
gathering corn along the railroad where, hundreds of bushels
had been scattered by the rebs.

Reached the pontoon bridge over Chickamauga half an hour
of sundown. After a long delay it was clear and we crossed.
Met General Sheridan and his Division followed V*y two others,
going to relieve Burnside. Came to our old camp before the
battle, after night. The rain had ceased and it turned very

10 [ 145 1

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cold, and the wind whistled as of old Wisconsin. Unhitched,
unharnessed, cleaned off my muddy team, and then with a great
deal of chattering and shivering, etc. pitched tents, made our
bed on the muddy wet ground. Felt very much like eating a
good home supper as prepared by Mary, but after waiting a
long time it was substituted by a dish of mush and a cup of
coffee and thankful for that, Many of the infantry had noth
ing but parched corn and no tents, no rails to make a fire ;
rather tough but I suppose it is honest.

Near Chattanooga, Sunday, Nov. 29. Slept very cold, or
rather shivered through the night with little sleep. Thiss morn
ing it is still very cold. Froze quite hard last night. Har
nessed the team and "snaked" some firewood, banked our tent,
etc. Gathered leaves in them so we were a little better pre
pared for it. Tried to write home, but my fingers were so
numb that I gave it up much to my dissatisfaction, as I know
they are anxious for my having not written any since the battle.

Near Chattanooga, Monday, Nov. 30. Cold during the night
but comfortable at midday. Wrote a letter to John, signed
pay rolls in the afternoon. It is expected we will move soon.
Hope it is so as our infantry are in a suffering condition, their
tents at Bridgeport and their blankets, many of them, lost on
the battle-field. They are scattered through the valley seeking
shelter from friendly cliffs, drawing comfort from glowing
fires, and trusting fate and fortune for rations, as Uncle Sam
fails this time. But hope it will not be so long.

Near Chattanooga, Tuesday, Dec, 1. Health good and fine
appetite for dodgers, which is all we have, minus salt and ex
tras. Warning given in camp to avoid smallpox. Case in the
12th Battery carried out to the woods this morning. Com
menced writing to brother Thomas but interrupted to hitch up
for review. Most of the mule teams were required to help us
out, and moved out "in fine style". Formed line on the ex--

[146]

1863 J THE FLAG

treme right of the Division under direction of Captain Dillon.
He tried to show off a little by ordering a "trot", but came
very nearly showing a failure. The men were ragged, dirty
and worn out, so were the beasts, but the fine line of stripes
and stars looked as beautiful as ever, intermingled with the
blue banners. It is a soldier's privilege to look at it as a friend
and boon companion, "may it ever wave".

Soon the inspectors came. The first one was Major General
Hunter, inspector general, glittering with military pomp and
gaudy tassels, etc. I did not like his appearance. He wore a
sandy mustache, and looked as though he might be forty-five
years old. He was followed by the modest unassuming Grant,
dressed in plain blue, no glitter or decorations except the small
stars on his deserving shoulders. He looked much poorer and
worse than when I last saw him. By his side was General
Smith, surly as ever, and General Meigs alongside of the "war
dog" Logan, who it is said is now in command of the 15th
Corps. The bands sounded the cheers as they passed, which
filled the narrow valley with echo. They passed and the line
marched to their encampment.

Near Chattanooga, Wednesday, Dec. 2. Horses fed, cleaned,
etc. I commenced writing on letter commenced yesterday, but
was again disturbed with orders to hitch up as we were to turn
the battery over, horses, harness and all to Chattanooga. Very
good news, and therefore promptly obeyed. Took the six pieces-
and caissons, leaving the battery wagon and forge. The town
was farther than I expected, about three miles. Crossed the
river on the pontoon bridge (simple but invaluable invention,,
this pontoon ) , a " flying ferry ' ' running right above it and well
used. It is a novel arrangement, in which the boat is crossed
by the strength of the current acting against gates let into the
water, it being fastened to a tow-head above by forty rods of
rope. After some delay we parked the old battery that we
had hauled through the mud of Mississippi, across the bayous

[147]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

of Louisiana and the mountains of Tennessee, and had belched
our terror to traitors from Corinth, Raymond, Jackson, Cham
pion Hills, Vicksburg and Chattanooga. Although once wrested
from our hands for an instant, success always crowned their
labors. We left them alongside of a long line of captured
napoleons.

The town was under strict military order, and patrols busy
picking up all those found without a pass, so I did not have
a chance of going around. Had a strong desire to visit Lieu
tenant J. Silsby's Battery, but 1 could not. Returned to camp
by 5 P. M. Wrote on T. L. 's letter till dark, when we were
assembled for pay at the Captain's tent, it being for the months
of September and October. Clothing accounts settled. I was
$12.86 behind, therefore did not draw but $19.15, better than
some who did not draw any. Turned $15 over to J. Lester, to
be expressed home, leaving me but two dollars pocket money.

In Winter Quarters

Enroute, Thursday, Dec. 3. Moved for Bridgeport, Ala., 7
A. M. All the serviceable horses reported to Lieutenant Har-
low of the 12th Battery and were put in the teams. B. P.
Dixon took "Reb?' for a saddle horse, giving me a pony in
stead, which exempted my team. Emptied my valise into E.
W. E.'s knapsack. My blanket on saddle, Evie's blanket in
valise, saddle by my side, and we started in rear of 12th Bat
tery. Double quicked it for the first two miles after which we
came into muddy roads and moved slow. Walked about seven
miles, taking railroad. Had to wait three or four hours for
Battery to come up at South Sides coal mines. A steep stony
hill ahead of us, and a long wagon train loaded with artillery
horses stuck on it. The Battery did not get started until after
sundown. The horses were entirely jaded out, no feed and hard
work. Nearly every piece stalled and obliged to double teams.

[148]

1863] SCANT RATIONS

Tired of waiting and standing in the mud, cold and cheerless
we pushed on through the brush until we reached the valley
below. We unharnessed and tied to the trees our faithful but
hungry steeds, scraped our haversacks for the last crumb, after
which we laid down all alone and no "grub" for the morrow,
but it worried not our lives.

Bridgeport, Friday, Dec. 4. Awoke at dawn, the ground was
white with frost and blankets stiff, although we slept warm.
The 12th Battery succeeded in getting over some time during
the night. "Ned" gone from the tree. I started in search
walking brisk for an hour over the hills and high brush to no
avail. Found our boys in squads by fires, having suffered se
verely during the night. Most of them had no blankets. Re
turned. Evie started and soon returned astride a fine speci
men in the shape of a "sorrel crowbait", mane and tail closely
shaven and points very prominent ; but he could cany the har
ness, so he would do. No signs of moving with the batteries.
We have nothing to eat, and by this time quite hungry, which
induced us to push on in an independent squad. Two miles
out found "Ned" standing innocently at a; fire, held by an in
fantry man. Of course I traded. Passed the 1st and 2nd
Brigade in camp, also the Division headquarters. Found grain
on roadside near Whiteside. Halted to let horses eat. Passed
by General Smith and Brigade. Captain Dillon halted and
spoke gruffly to us, but finally rode on, and we followed after
him. Made serious attempts to buy cornbread of citizens or
hard-tack from trains going to the front, but failed. Joined
by D. J. Davis, E. F. Hayes and W. H. H. Booth. We jour
neyed on together.

The sun was very warm, the frozen ground converted into
mud. I was afoot. Noon came and hunger became more
pointed. We halted to rest in sight of a camp, a brigade in
winter quarters. "Council of war" held and the following
program determined upon. E. W. E. and E. F. Hayes were to

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AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

take -the horses and go to the above-mentioned camp and pro
cure something to eat regardless of expense, while we went to
"Mica Jack Cave" to await their return. Visited this stupen
dous piece of God's handiwork and proceeded into it as far as
daylight would show us the way. A truly impressive scene,
solid rock under one's feet, pure crystal water trickling down
its walls, streams fell from above on * * * of rock, which
by constant trickling were now smooth and symmetrical. On
all sides long ranges of leeches were arranged for saltpetre
works. The earth out of which it was obtained was brought
from the entrance of the cave, the best of it five miles, in large
vats at the mouth for boiling it down. At length the boys
came, having succeeded to a charm, as they had a box of con
demned crackers thrown aside (being mouldy) out of "which
they filled their haversacks, and which to us tasted sweeter
than honey. We ate heartily and thankfully of these musty
crackers and water from the cave, after which I felt much
stronger.

Seven miles to Bridgeport, which we made easily by 4 P. M.
Endeavored to buy our supper, but the hungry boys of the 1st
and 2nd Brigades had cleared the town. Waited until after
night for the arrival of the rest of the boys, as we hoped they
would have rations, but as they did not appear, D. J. D., E. W.
E. and myself started in search of camping ground. It was
very dark and we wandered across the large flat covered with
logs, stumps and rifle pits in search of the camp of the 3rd
Division, from one camp fire to another, until at last we found
the train loaded with crackers. Dan succeeded in filling his
haversack with crackers from behind a wagon. Honest for a
hungry man. Built a large fire by a dead tree, made our bed in
the leaves, and after eating a few dry crackers, retired for
the night, tired and rather lonesome.

Bridgeport, Saturday, Dec. 5. Had a fine night's rest, also
a fine breakfast of fried crackers and coffee. Evie borrowed

[150]

1863] A QUIET SUNDAY

the pan, I begged the salt, Dan the coffee, after which went up
town, gathered waste grain and fed the famished horses. Ate
a pie and water. 10 A. M. the batteries came in, having been
obliged to leave their ammunition chest behind, and hard work
to come at that. Eight of our horses died on the road. The
road is lined on all sides with the dead horses and mules, hav
ing died of starvation. Went into camp east of town. Tents
came in 3 P. M. Full rations for man and beast. Night found
us comfortably quartered and "happy as lambs", infantry sing
ing "Bally, boys, rally" etc. They have just passed through a
hard trip, no tents, got scant rations, and were half famished
by the time they got here, but there was no grumbling or lag
ging, each marching cheerfully, parching his corn in the ashes,
as corn is stuff to keep up strength; but such boys are invin
cible while on the field, as on the march, alike jolly and con
tented.

Bridgeport, Sunday, Dec. 6. A beautiful Sabbath day. Air
soft and balmy, camp remarkably quiet and still. Two large
mails received, I the happy recipient of eight letters. Spent
most of the day in writing a letter commenced the 1st to T. L.,
such is the difficulty of letter-writing in the army. Felt tired
and worn out indeed and slept considerable of the day. Os-
terhaus's Division came in and went into camp on our left.

Bridgeport, Monday, Dec. 7. Changed, washed, etc. in the
forenoon. Wrote home in afternoon. All quiet in and around
camp. Various rumors afloat as to our final destination for
the winter. Generally supposed we are to open the road to
Corinth. Fine weather for this time of the year.

Bridgeport, Tuesday, Dec. 8. A cold rainy day, very dis
agreeable in camp; naturally thought much of home and its
comforts. But we looked forward to the happy time coming
when we will be permitted to join the circle on the old hearth-

[151]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1863

stone and know war no more. May the day soon conu>. I am
not impatient but anxious.

Bridgeport, Wednesday, Dec. 9. Rain ceased, sun appeared
and the deep slushy mud soon dried up. After dinner I was
detailed to help take horses to turn them over with Lieutenant
Simpson. Took thirty-eight horses and three mules, crossed
the bridge on to the island, and had to go up stream two miles
to the corral. Its presence was manifested by the stench from
far off from the carrion of the dead. They filled for acres the
woods to a number almost incredible, starved to death. The
corral-master was an old-looking man. We found him in an
isolated clapboard house with only two or three inhabitants.
He must enjoy the life of a hermit. The corral was a field of
ten acres containing three thousand to four thousand head of
mules and horses, all much pulled down for want of feed. It
was sundown before we turned them over. Had three miles of
bad road to camp. Walked it through the dark, lost our track
several times. Found a good supper of fried beef and biscuit
awaiting us. Spent evening in Griff's lent listening to music
of flute and vocal as discoursed by Byness, Parker, etc.

Bridgeport, Thursday, Dec. 10. Sun so hot as to be quite
warm. Much like a spring day in Wisconsin. Everybody
lively and full of fun, troubled with nothing but ''nothing to
do", which to me is a serious cup. Gambling among the in
dulging ones quite brisk. W'atches and pens raffled for, etc.
A chuckluck doing big business was surprised by a guard in
Osterhaus's camp this afternoon and the boys taken to the head
quarters of the Division under guard. The idleness and mo
notony of camp is fearfully demoralizing to many, and inevi
tably leads to the gaming table if indulged in.

Bridgeport, Friday, Dec. 11. A most beautiful and deli fit
ful day, and all the boys merry and light-hearted as larks, ^t
was expected last night thnt we nhonld march vo-dsy. 1m t in-

1152]

1863] "HONEST ABE"

stead we policed camp. Our officers are making a sudden ef
fort toward strict discipline so long neglected, that it is prop
erly called "putting on style" now. C. — - put on a day's extra
duty under guard by order of Captain - — , more to glut ven
geance than justice, I am afraid. Men put on extra duty for
not attending roll-call.

Bridgeport, Saturday, Dec. 12. A misty morning which broke
into rain, which drizzled all day, enough to make it sun-less and
disagreeable outside and chilly in tent for want of fire. Read
"Honest Abe's" Message, which in my estimation is true and
honest, every word. The old Democrats in camp would like to
criticize, but can't find much fault. It is hard to put away
party prejudices. Small mail arrived, but none for me.

Bridgeport, Sunday, Dec. 13. The heavy rain of yesterday
and last night still continued, and in the afternoon it rained
much heavier with strong wind which drove it through the
tents, rendering everything wet and uncomfortable. Wrote an
imperfect letter to Sister Ellen in A. M. The remainder of the
day spent in reading Gleason's Companion which 1 luckily
hit on. Comrades in tent playing "poker" all day "for fun".
Laid down at night in wet blankets and aching bones.

Bridgeport, Monday, Dec. 14. Woke up last night to find
myself "shaking" at double quick. Shook for nearly an hour
and a half as hard and fast as ever, after which a burning
fever came on and continued all night. Did not get up to roll
call, but watered my horses, after which I was called on guard,

the 2nd relief, guarding C . Cold and windy, rain cleared

off. Many of the boys raising their tents, walling them with

logs, building chimneys, etc. At night C was allowed to go

to his tent, so I was relieved from guard. The evening seemed
very long with nothing to do or read.

Bridgeport, Tuesday, Dec. 15. Quite cold in the morning
but sun soon appeared and warmed up the air as well as the

[153]

AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

soldiers' heart. Intended to "fix up" our tent but failed to
procure team, so we washed in the forenoon, built a fire in the
woods, it resounding on all sides with the axes of the soldiers
felling trees, etc., as if it was a chopping bee in the backwoods.
P. M. Wrote a letter to sister. Sewed and darned. The
day passed quickly and pleasantly. No mail, though much
looked for.

Bridgeport, Wednesday, Dec. 16. Reveille at 5 A. M. Break
fast at 6 A. M. Sick call at 8 A M. Guard mounting 9 A. M.
Water call 10 A. M. Dinner and "feed horses" call 12 M.
Water call 3 P. M. Retreat and roll-call 5 P. M. Tattoo 9
P. M. Taps at 9:15 P. M. This is the regular undisturbed
routine of camp duty, the same to-day as yesterday, the same
yesterday as to-morrow. Nothing to jar the well balanced
wheel. On she goes with no interruption, and we hope not for
relief from this mental bane of monotony until we will be per
mitted to take off the uniform and don the citizen's coat, and
not obliged to listen to bugle or drum. Blake, Evans and
Dixon went to the woods this morning and got out logs to raise
the tent. After dinner hauled them up with mule team. A
"raise" before night having about three feet of a wall, much
more roomy than before but colder. Indications of rain. Ex
pected a wetting through the cracks. All the boys have been
very busy in the same way.

Bridgeport, Thursday, Dec. 17. Rained very heavy all night
with wind which threatened to overthrow the elevated canvas
overhead. Slept warm and dry, and after breakfast Schmidt
and myself mudded the "shebang", I acting as chief mason,
he carrying the mud. Continued raining most all day and all
hands stayed in doors most of the time. Cheerless, were we not
used to it. Clothing issued. No mail.

Bridgeport, Friday, Dec. 18. Sharp, cold night, the mud of
yesterday frozen hard. Evie and myself started to the hills

[154]

1863] BUILDING A ' SHEBANG

to quarry stone for a fireplace after breakfast. Worked hard
for two hours and gathered a good load. Waited for a team
another hour. None came, so we went to camp after dinner.
Blake did the chimney, and we had the gratification at night
to have a large blazing fire in our room, now comfortable quar
ters which looked quite home-like. Stories told with fun, laugh
ter, till late at night.

Bridgeport, Saturday, Dec. 19. Still cold and windy. We
were apparently as much pinched as though we were in Wis
consin, notwithstanding a great difference to be seen in the cli
mate. The ground has not been frozen to the depth of four
inches here yet. Water open most of the time, while there snow
and ice is unceasing at this season. 2nd and 4th Divisions re
ported to be coming in. After evening roll-call the Company
formed in hollow square and listened to an order from General
McPherson in regard to veterans re-enlisting which caused quite
an excitement. Many talk of re-enlisting.

Bridgeport, Sunday, Dec. 20. Considerable frost this morn
ing, but the boys came out in high spirits, full of fun and very
noisy. The fire-places doing good service to keep up spirits,
and all have drawn clothing enough to keep warm. WTe re
ceived no mail or papers for three days, the cars having run
off the track this side of Nashville. Captain Dillon left for
Nashville this P. M. after artillery equipment. Wrote a letter
to brother John. Darned stockings, etc. Signed receipt roll
for clothing.

Bridgeport, Monday, Dec. 21. Awakened long before day
light by bugles of the Dutch in Osterhaus's camp to rally the
men to prepare for marching, and at daylight ours sounded,
which brought us out to roll call, the cold morning air giving
electricity to horses and boys, unusually lively and noisy. 1st
Brigade of our Division marched by with knapsacks, guns.
They told us we were to follow soon. They were followed by

[155]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

Osterhaus's Division, leaving their comfortable quarters that
they had been diligently building for the last week. Mail and
papers arrived, Order received at evening roll-call from Sher
man permanently transferring the 2nd Division, 17th Corps, to
the 3rd Division, loth Corps, which was met with decided dis
satisfaction by most of the boys, as we did not like to leave Mc-
Pherson.

8 P. M. Assembly sounded to give us the expected orders to
march at 8 A. M. to-morrow and make ready knapsacks.
Packed, etc.

En route, Tuesday, Dec. 22. Reveille called us before day
light. Breakfast over, tents struck by sunrise. All the horses
still to be turned over to the 12th Battery with the exception of
enough to draw the battery wagons and forges. The harness
had to be hauled in the wagons, so all had to carry blankets,
and at the appointed time we "fell in" in marching train,
three days' rations in haversacks. Blankets rolled up and slung
over shoulder. Strict orders against straggling. A beautiful
sunny day. We marched in rear of 12th Battery which ad
vanced with difficulty. Camped at 4 P. M. in a grove, very
beautiful and close to good water. Cooked suppers, and large
fine blazing rail fires built, by which we sat till late.

Stevenson, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 23. Broke camp at 8 P. M.
and marched to Stevenson. Before we arrived at 11:30 A. M.
Osterhaus's train, going in cars, went to camp to the left of
town and put up tents in a fine open field.

En route, Thursday, Dec. 24. Lay waiting for orders to
move till 10 A. M., when it came — "to strike tents" and march
out. Marched through town which was once an active place
from appearances. Followed the Nashville road for one mil'
then turned east through a low swampy bottom, and oi
course progressed very slowly through mud holes and over cor
duroys, having to halt frequently to allow trains to close up.

[156]

CHRISTMAS MARCHING

Made coffee. Camped at 4 P. M. Pitched our tents at will in
a thicket of oak and pine on a side hill. Rails plenty out of
which we made large fires and gathered large piles of leaves
for "downy beds." The evening was calm and still, the thick
growth above giving our camp a picturesque appearance like a
mammoth hall. It was Christmas eve, and many were the lov
ing wishes that "we were home". Game of cards whiled away
the hours pleasantly to many. I was suffering with a severe
toothache. The very thing to relieve it — lay down early and
contrasted past scenes with present, trying to pry into the fu
ture, until weary nature lulled pain and homesickness, and I
slept to dream of home.

Bellefonte, Ala., Friday, Dec. 25. Christmas Night. Awoke,
not to the chiming voices of happy children as they cried
"Wish you Merry Christmas", but to the notes of the bugle
calling us to be ready to move. Struck tents at 8 A. M. Roads
much better than those we have passed. Marched fast most of
the time, having to go much out of the way to avoid swamps
or bluffs. Marched quietly along, absorbed in thinking of home,
and what they are doing this Christmas Day. Came into
cainp late at night near the county seat of Jackson County.
The buildings burned and gone to ruin. I was very tired and
foot-sore. No crackers for supper, so we made up the Christ
mas supper on parched corn and coffee. Tooth ached badly,
had but little sleep. During the night rained very heavy.

Larkinsville, Ala., Saturday, Dec. 26. Four small crackers
(% day's rations) were issued to us this morning for break
fast, reserving the others for the day's march. Struck tents in
a drenching rain, and continued all day. We marched along
through the mud and rain, part of the roads exceedingly bad,
being a low marshy ground covered with water for miles, tim
bered with large beech trees and green holly. Scottsboro is
a very pretty little station five miles from Larkinsville, head-

[157]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

quarters of the 15th Corps. Warning given not to enter houses
as smallpox was prevalent, one house had five patients, another
a corpse. Reached this place at 4 P. M. wet, footsore, and
quite hungry, and had to wait until after night for rations.
3rd Brigade to go in winter quarters. Plenty of- cedar rails

Larkinsville, Sunday, Dec. 27. Rain, rain, all last night, ana
to-day I was on guard. Stood with toothache and swollen rig In
side of face in no pleas^t mood. Felt cross and lonesome. For
agers sent after corn. Returned with plenty of fresh meat, etc.
Larkinsville is situated in a very fertile valley, and citizens
well disposed anpl loyal. Forty miles east of Huntsville, twen
ty-two west of Stevenson and two hundred twenty-six east of
Memphis. 3rd Brigade and 12th Battery busy at work hauling
stones, timber, etc. for winter quarters.

Larkinsville, Monday, Dec. 28. Rain ceased and sky cleared
off. Sun shone down on mud six inches deep on level. Camp
ing ground staked out and tents ordered to be moved into posi
tion. Blake gone out after fresh meat. Dixon and Evie
started after cedar timber to wall the tent. I snaked them down
with horse team. By night we had tent up, four feet red cedar
logs with bed of cedar boughs. Rather cold bed. Blake and
Snyder [Seiders?] returned with half a porker. Snyder fSeid-
ers?] changed with Schmidt and came into our mess and tent.

Larkinsville, Tuesday, Dec. 29. Warm and pleasant. Long
train sent foraging under escort. Snyder sent on detail. Hauled
stone from bluff and put up fireplace and chimney, mudded up,
etc. Streets of the Battery presenting a lively appearance,
men's sleeves rolled up, coats off, rolling stones, chopping, mak
ing mud buildings of every fancy and description to suit the
proprietors. Soldiers are not lazy when they work for their
own immediate interest.

4 P. M. Snyder 's [Seiders?] horses led into camp by infantry
men loaded with five hogs, twenty-six chickens. Guards took

[158]

3864] REENLISTMENT?

him to headquarters, but he outgeneraled them by sending off
the game which they wanted, therefore he was returned.

Larkinsville, Wednesday, Dec. 30. Cold and cloudy day. I
suffered much from neuralgia and toothache, from which I
could get no rest. Dressed the two hogs brought yesterday, and
salted them. The chickens hung up for New Year's. We drew
rations for the tent and cooked at the fireplace, a family of our
own. Camp still busy improving. Women and boys in camp
trading cornbread off for coffee and salt, etc. with the soldiers.
Eight hundred rounds of powder ammunition received by Lieu
tenant Clark for new battery. Unloaded and stored down town.

Larkinsville, Thursday, Dec. 31. Wet and disagreeable.
Rained all night and day. Water running into our houses so
as to threaten drowning us out. So we stole lumber enough
from a deserted house to build us bunks, E. W. and myself on
the upper shelf four feet above, where I laid and tossed from
pain until late; the other bunk underneath. Could not sleep
and I thought of the closing year that we had commenced two
hundred miles west of here on a tedious march from German-
town to Lafayette, and since then travelled many a hundred
miles of rebel country, meeting the enemy and winning.

Larkinsville, Friday, Jan. 1, 1864. The new year came in
very cold with a little snow, the first of the season. Ground
frozen several inches in depth. Veteran enlistments began this
morning. John Eagion headed the list and was followed by
eighteen before breakfast, which continued rapidly through the
day accompanied with considerable excitement and hesitation.
Thus New Year's day was spent, a striking contrast to those
that our minds were continually turning to. A good supper
for a soldier, of "chicken fixin" which helped to make us very
contented during the long evening.

F1591

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

Larkinsville, Saturday, Jan. 2. Continued very cold and
freezing. Good fires and comfortable quarters, very essential
to keep warm. Captain Dillon arrived from Nashville, reports
battery [of new guns] on the way. Enlistment yet the talk.
I have serious thoughts upon it. I am confident that it is the
best thing for us recruits. Griff, Dan and others in the same
way; if one goes, all go. A dance held down town by "Ala-
bam" gals and Yankee soldiers. Running rumor afloat that
we are to leave our quarters soon for Huntsville. Don't like it.

Larkinsville, Sunday, Jan. 3. Little wanner to-day. Stormed
a little. It is hoped by many that a sufficient number will en
list so as to return to the state and reorganize. Forty-eight on
the rolls now, ninety-eight required. Y— - returned to the Bat
tery, having been under guard at headquarters ever since we
left Gilbertsboro. Court-martialed and punishment read at
evening roll call, the loss of two months' pay for offering vio
lence to superior officers and slandering. Dillon received or
ders, it is said, to allow Battery to stay where they are if they
are comfortably quartered.

Larkinsville, Monday, Jan. 4. Rained heavy all night. Cloudy
and misty all day. Many to-day expressed their willingness to
re-enlist, if allowed to return to the state and elect their own
officers. At evening roll-call Lieutenant Simpson called all
those desiring to return to the state under their old officers to
step to the front. But none desired to under those conditions,
as they desire to choose their own officers. Mail arrived. I
received news of the 27th ult. from Brother John. Quite ill,
but true to his custom wrote on the last Sunday of the month,
having not missed one through the year.

Larkinsville, Tuesday, Jan. 5. Rain of yesterday ceased and
it is a soft sunny day, everything calm and quiet in camp, it
being the last day allowed for enlisting. But nobody goes for
ward. 12 M. assembly sounded and a telegraphic dispatch

[160]

1864] "MERCILESS DRIVERS"

from the war department stating three-fourths of the actual
number present would take the organization home, etc. If
Captain Dillon would express his determination to command
the Battery, a sufficient numher would go in, to go home, as the
boys would rather have him with all his faults, then - — , in
competent to command.

Larkinsville, Wednesday, Jan. 6. Cold and freezing. Every
thing quiet, the theme of the last five days having been dropped
since the time expired. At evening roll call marching orders
were read to us to leave at 8 A. M. in the morning. All extra
baggage, harness, etc. loaded on cars and a detail of twenty
men to accompany them. Camp was still at an early hour. All
felt bad at being obliged to leave their comfortable quarters,
so recently built by hard labor, and face the stern, hard march.
None of the quarters were to be destroyed as they were to be
occupied by troops coming in to occupy the place.

Near Paint Eock River, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 7. Reveille woke
us to prepare for the march at 4 A. M. Breakfast cooked and
eaten. Tents struck and loaded in due time. I was detailed
to stay with the wagons, and did not start for half an hour af
ter Battery left. The roads are frozen and very rough, the
weather extremely cold, the air damp and filled with frozen
mists, covering our clothes with ice and sleet. The troops
marched fast and kept warm, but the train moved slow and
tedious, wagons sticking in ruts, mules giving up, lying down
in the road; to receive beastly cruelty from merciless drivers,
and horrid oaths from impatient wagon masters. Often ob
liged to put our shoulders to the wheel to get along. Suffered
severely from the cold with bare hands.

2 P. M. came upon the officers' wagon on side of the road,
axle-tree broken, where we had to stop and take on the load,
and it followed in the rear, with a pole for wheel. A little
farther on passed the battery wagon and forge, both wheel teams

11 [ 161 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY 1864

having given out, and abandoned and waiting for men to he sent
hack. Passed through Woodville at 4 P. M. Crossed Paint
Rock River at dark, having yet three miles to camp through a
low wet bottom, timbered thickly with large tall beach, and it
grew very dark. Sergeant Runyan drew his wagons one side
to wait till morning, but Lieutenant Clark ordered them on.

I reached camp with our wagon at 9 P. M. after much trouble.
I never was out in a darker night. Boys were scattered along
the road for miles doing the best they could to keep warm and
escape the storm, as it began to snow very heavy. Found a
bedfellow and joined a squad in an old field where we made
shelter between two old corn cribs from the shakes. Built a
roaring fire. Received mail, and I was happy to read by the
light of the rails of home. Made our beds on the rough frozen
ground and slept well till morning.

Brownsboro, Ala., Friday, Jan. 8. Arose in good time, while
it was broad daylight, and found that one of the party had his
hat burned up during the night. An inch of snow on the
ground, and it was chillingly cold. But a small portion of the
train came up last night, therefore did not move until nearly
noon. The roads were slippery and hard to travel. E. W. E.
and I took the R. R. After a hard march of ten miles we
reached Brownsboro at 4 P. M. on Flint River, the terminus of
the R. R. communications as yet. Here we found the boys that
had come through on the cars. Cooked our supper by their
fires and went in search of shelter for the night. Seven of us
in the squad found a cotton patch in the middle of a dense for
est with a cotton pen. Built a crib of rails, crammed a foot
of cotton into it and covered with the rubbers. The wagon road
seen on the opposite side of a range of mountains, and the Brig
ade had not yet come up. Nigger Henry had kindly taken my
blankets on his horse in the morning and was now with the
Battery. We could hear the rattle of the wagons coming in from
a distance, and as I was in much need of my blankets I started

[ 162 ]

1864J SLEEPING IN COTTON

to meet them, but found they had camped three-quarters of a
mile back. Climbed a little hill and the hundreds of fires
burned brightly in the distance, whither I turned myself. Wan
dered through the city of lights some time before I found the
Battery, found my blankets, thanked Henry for carrying them,
and turned my steps towards my bedfellow in the woods. Tak
ing a bee line, I thought to find them there. I tugged through
a dense thicket of briar and underbrush, scratched my face,
tearing my clothes, and in water to the tops of my boots most
of the time. It was very dark, but still I kept on certain of
finding them. Suddenly the light blazed up before me and I
found them going to bed at 9 P. M. I was tired out and foot
sore.

fluntsville, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 9. 1 felt very good on our
"downy" bed, so good that I did not wake up till broad day
light. Rolled up our blankets in great haste and started to
ward camp, as we were out of rations, but we found the Battery
moving and were obliged to "fall in" with an empty stomach,
as a reward for our straggling. Flint River was crossed on
mule wagons, which were very slow, obliging us to stand on the
bauks for nearly an hour. It was freezing very hard and all
were chilled through. The natives say it was the coldest day
known for years. Animals and wagons covered with ice.
Cooked coffee on the other side while the remainder of the Bri
gade crossed. By that time we were ready to follow with our
breakfast eaten. Marched very fast through a beautiful coun
try interspersed with a low range of bluffs of the Cumberland
Range. Good timber and beautiful water. Sun shone in the
afternoon making roads muddy and slippery, very tiresome
walking. Met John A. Logan and staff going back afoot from
Huntsville.

4 P. M. Coming around the point of the bluff we could see
Huntsville in the valley below three miles distant. And weary
as I was I could but enjoy the beautiful scenery before me

[163]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

greatly. The sun shone brightly on the snow-covered roofs of
this beautiful town with their tall church spires raising their
snow-capped peaks to the heavens as a witness of better and
happier days gone by. On either side broad fields with beau
tiful mansions were spread to view, the whole enclosed by the
frost-covered range of low mountains. Marched through the
town with colors flying and bands playing, much to the satis
faction of the large crowds of contrabands that flocked at every
corner. Came into camp a mile north of the town on Russell
Hill. Old quarters here were soon taken possession of by the
boys. I was very tired.

Huntsville, Sunday, Jan. 10. Notwithstanding that all were
very tired from the fatiguing march of the past three days
through severe weather, the camp reverberated with the sound
of axe, saw and lumber, erecting quarters for the third time
this winter. Teams busy and in great demand hauling lumber
and brick, of which there is plenty. Our tent is back with the
boys on the R. R. ; therefore E. W. E. got a load of lumber
and built a hut in accordance with our means, and by night
had it up and covered with shakes. Slept in it but it was
quite cold.

Huntsville, Monday, Jan. 11. Worked quite hard all day
building fireplace. Had to carry much of the brick on our
shoulders twenty rods, but we had completed it by night, and
had the satisfaction of sitting by the fire in the evening. Draws
well.

Huntsville, Tuesday, Jan. 12. Pleasant in the middle of the
day, but freezing severely at night. Eight teams sent back to
Flint River after the two pieces, also two loads of ammunition.
Returned early. Busy most of the time completing "shebang".
Very small, but quite cozy for two soldiers. It is 6 ft. by 8 ft.,
4% ft. high on the side. Door is in front, 18 in. by 30 in., by
side of which is chimney — 18 in. stack. Bunk in back, 4 ft.

[164]

1864] NEW QUARTERS

wide. At the foot of it is the writing desk, opposite is hard
tack box for cupboard, etc.

Huntsville, Wednesday, Jan. 13. Wrote letter home. Mail
arrived. None for me. Sadly disappointed. Camp is com
paratively still. Quarters nearly complete and look well. The
boys' tents in one line of sight; tents with non-commissioned
officers in rear. Kitchens erected on the left for company cooks.
Remainder of men and things came up from the river to-day on
railroad cars hauled by mules. Dixon's Company setting up
their tent, but we will live alone.

Huntsville, Thursday, Jan. 14. Calm and quite warm. Spent
the day in writing and reading novelettes, an effective way of
killing time, but very profitless. On duty in the forenoon to
haul bricks for section mess shanty.

Huntsville, Friday, Jan. 15. Little rain last night and looks
like more. Quite muddy and disagreeable. Another large mail
received, among which was one for me from my aged father in
his own handwriting and language; gave me much pleasure to
peruse. Cousin Griffith quitted the officers' mess this afternoon
and came in with us.

Huntsville, Saturday, Jan. 16. Warm and pleasant day. D.
J. Davis and myself ordered to report to Dr. Coleman at 9
A. M. He set us to work building a chimney. Finished it by
supper time. Camp and men inspected at 10 A M. by Captain
Budlong, A. I. G. and Captain Dillon, chief of artillery, giv
ing orders that after reveille all tents to be swept out and
blankets doubled. A ball was announced to be held to-night
in town and many of the boys attended, but found to their
chagrin that it was a nigger dance. Some returned crestfallen,
others enjoyed the joke by "tripping" with the ' 'colored sis
ters".

[ 165 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIA::;Y [1804

Huntsville, Sunday, Jan. 17. A pleasant day. Meeting was
announced to be had at 2 P. M. in the Presbyterian Church.
Obtained permission and went down, but found none, it being
held at 6 P. M. Walked over town. Visited the waterworks
of the city, which is the largest of the kind South, with the
exception of one at Columbia, S. C. A large stream gushes out
of the solid rock under the courthouse, which is dammed about
four feet and propels a large water wheel which works a pow
erful force pump that forces water all over the city, furnishing
a hydrant at every corner. Pump is enclosed in a neat stone
house. Returned to camp for supper and evening roll-call, then
we walked back again. The church was very neat and filled
with soldiers, but one woman in the audience. Chaplain of
18th Wisconsin officiated, of the Calvinistic school, and but ill
agreed with my views, but it seemed good to be once more lis
tening to an earnest speaker and hear the old-fashioned tunes
swell in the bass voices that filled the room. Returned to camp,
if not better, a more thoughtful man. It was the second sermon
I have listened to since leaving home, and in common with all
soldiers, I have acquired a careless and light way of passing
time.

Huntsville, Monday, Jan. 18. An idle day in camp. Noth
ing of interest. G'riff and myself went to town on pass, made
a few purchases. Camp policed. Lieutenant Simpson went to
Stevenson. Weather cold. No news or no mail.

Huntsville, Tuesday, Jan. 19. Washing day, which duly oc
cupied the forenoon. Afternoon spent in writing letters, etc.
Evening long and spent in listening to old Welsh tunes, hymns
and songs sung by Griff and Evie.

Huntsville, Wednesday, Jan. 20. Health good. Plenty to
eat and nothing to do. Foragers brought in several hogs. D.
J. D. gave us a piece of ribs which we roasted before the fire,
a fine dinner out of it. - - and - - of our Battery in jail in

[166]

"STYLE"

town for robbing an old gray-haired negro after dark while on
his way home from the camp, where he had been to sell corn-
cakes. Special orders from Captain Dillon read to us at re
treat. Orders squad and battery drill each day from 9 A. M.
to 10 A. M. and from 2 P. M. to 3 P. M. ; four roll-calls a day;
6 A. M., 11 A. M, 6 P. M. and 8 P. M. all to appear in full
uniform. * ' Style ' '.

Huntsville, Thursday, Jan. 21. As ordered yesterday, the
drill call sounded at 9 A. M. and We fell in. Lieutenant Clark
drilled in infantry drill for half an hour, and then had the
chief of platoon drill them until the recall was sounded. The
same in the afternoon. Rather awkward at first, but it is
easier to remember than learn.

Huntsville, Friday, Jan. 22. Arose with a slight cold and
swollen face from the inflamed nerve of defective tooth. On
fatigue all day, hauling rubbish from front of Battery, till at
night I was almost sick from headache and cold. Escaped the
drill to-day.

Huntsville, Saturday, Jan. 23. Did not drill to-day. In or
der to prepare for inspection to-morrow all the old harness over
hauled, and all ordnance stores gathered preparatory to be
turned over to the ordnance officers. My face much swollen
and very sore. Weather is most delightful. The sun shines as
soft and warm, birds chirp as lively as they would in Wiscon
sin in the last of April. Policed all the grounds in the after
noon. Inspector Budlong condemned the harness, and all
marked "C". Order from General Smith read at retreat in
regard to desertion.

Huntsville, Sunday, Jan. 24. My face much swollen yet and
exceedingly painful. Was on guard, 1st relief. The weather
was warm and I felt unwell, sick headache and aching limbs,
but I stood my guard. Clothing inspection by Captain Dillon

[167]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

at 9 A. M. He was very particular, found much fault with the
service-worn clothes in which we have marched through mud
and rain, sleeping on the wet ground, etc. He seemed to have
but little sympathy with his privates, but is determined they
shall "look well'7. Most of the boys attended meeting two or
three times during the day.

Huntsville, Monday, Jan. 25. A delightful night to stand
guard. Mail came in while I was on, 10 P. M. I received one
from brother T. L. which I read by the pale light of the moon
while walking my silent beat, contrary to military rule, but the
moments passed fleeting by, and my mind wandered where it
ever flies — to the home of my parents and brothers and sisters
dear, and methought that even then could I but know their
thoughts, they were wandering in the dreary land for me in the
mystical South. Did they see me then walking my beaten path
in the still quiet moonlight ? Relieved from guard at 5 A. M. and
as I felt very weak and sick, went to bed. Did not get up till
9 A. M. Felt much refreshed, a little better. All the Batteries'
guard were mounted together and inspected by the officer of the
day of the "Battery Corps" with all the paraphernalia of reg
ulars. General Smith is making desperate efforts to bring his
headstrong Division to the standard required in description, re
sorting to means almost tyrannical, but he never can make mere
human machines of the intelligent, strong-minded volunteers.
They did not leave their homes for holiday pomp and style, but
to do their duty in saving their country from ruin. All other
objects to them are void of interest and will not be pursued.

Huntsville, Tuesday, Jan. 26. Another beautiful day full
of sunlight and comfort, and I am in good trim to enjoy it.
Drill call sounded as usual, but instead of drilling we policed
about three acres of ground by order of Captain Dillon for two
hours in the forenoon, and in the afternoon the brush, paddle
and broom were plied with industry hardly ever equalled on

[168]

1864] CAMP ROUTINE

such occasions. Teams sent to Flint River and returned at.
night with the remaining four guns, and parked in proper posi
tions. Rumor of a rebel cavalry force advancing. Two regi
ments gone out, others under orders.

Huntsville, Wednesday, Jan. 27. Reveille sounded at 5:30
A. M. Roll call at 6 A. M. Blankets to be hung out for airing,
quarters swept out and surroundings. Clothes to be brushed
off and blankets to be doubled up and laid at the head ot! the
bed in time for camp inspection at 9 A. M. by officer of the day,
which to-day is Lieutenant Amsden, 12th Battery. Guard
mounted at 8 A. M. in front of headquarters by Lieutenant
Simpson, acting adjutant for the Battalion. 9 A. M. fell in for
drill. Drilled for two hours in company by General *
The grounds are getting smoothed off and hard as a floor. 12
M. roll call. Dinner from the section cooks. 2 P. M. another
two hours' drill in squads under the chief of pieces.

5 P. M. Formed in for dress parade in rear of the tents, in
front of Captain's tent, our Battery on the right, Cogswell's
on the left, and 12th in the center. After it was formed by
Simpson, Captain took us through battalion drill for half an
hour, very strict. When we broke ranks I was quite tired and
almost footsore from drilling. Indeed, it gives us little time
to ourselves. Cars came in this afternoon for the first time, the
whistle of the engine responded to by a hundred cheers by the
boys. Cavalry came in, reported the rebels repulsed.

Huntsville, Thursday, Jan. 28. Up bright and early as usual.
Breakfast, swept, brushed, washed, combed, etc. ready for the
routine of duty, when I was notified that I was on detail to go
with the forage train, which was then waiting. Fell in with a
long train under quartermaster of 18th Wisconsin. Went on
the turnpike to the west, travelled about eight miles through a
somewhat winding road, but beautiful country. It was rolling
enough to make it varied, with good timber where not culti-

[1691

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

vated. Old fields containing 50 to 600 acres lying idle, appar
ently for three years or more, which was running wild into
prairie. The general appearance of the country was much like
extensive farming regions. North of them were wealthy South
ern plantations, much more attention being paid to grain rais
ing than to cotton. Numerous stacks of wheat were stacked
unthreshed, and broad fields of corn unhusked, the land under
a medium state of cultivation. I could but think with North
ern enterprise and intelligence, with free and willing hands to
do the work, what lovety and fruitful farms could be built in
such a delightful climate. Obtained plenty of corn on a large
plantation which all the whites had left, leaving a large flock
of negro women and children unprovided for, and seemed
delighted to see us until some of the boys took unallowed priv
ileges of the chicken coop, which they earnestly protested
against. Returned to camp at sundown well pleased with my
ride of sixteen miles and my observations therein, having also
escaped the drill, etc. Camp had again been swept up, ammu
nition packed in gun limbers. Lieutenant Clark gone to Nash
ville after horses. Lieutenant Jenawein in command of Bat
tery and appeared to-day with shoulder straps on for the first
time. Looks fine and soldier-like.

Huntsville, Friday, Jan. 29. Drilled Company. Drilled un
der Jenawein in forenoon and afternoon. Parade at 4 :30 P. M.
Captain put us through for about thirty minutes on quick time
and appeared well pleased with the maneuvering. He is get
ting very strict. One of the boys on extra duty all day for
slight mistake at guard mount this morning. Weather still
continues beautiful. Rebel cavalry still reported in the front,
very active. Two regiments went out late last night.

Huntsville, Saturday, Jan. 30. Little rain to-day. Very fine,
like spring. No drill, and rain prevented parade in the even
ing. Orders to prepare for knapsack inspection to-morrow

[1701

1864] SABBATH IN CAMP

morning 8 A. M. Lieutenant Simpson at morning roll-call told
us he was going to furnish us with brush and blacking, and de
sired all to appear with polished boots and equal our neighbors
of the 12th, but could not obtain a second lot. Dr. Coleman
sent for D. J. D. and myself, and presented us with a can of
condensed milk for building up his chimney. His name ought
to be written in letters of gold as one of a thousand, the friend
of the private.

Huntsville, Sunday, Jan. 31. Sunday morning dawned as
bright and beautiful as though it was in the spring of the year.
Knapsack inspection 8 A. M. by Lieutenants Simpson and Jen-
awein. 9 A. M. guard mounted and 1 was on the first relief.
Formed in front of headquarters. Opened ranks and under
went a close inspection, after which we were marched to the
guard house in front of the Battery. Relieved the old guards,
where we were obliged to remain for the next twenty-four
hours. Most of the boys attended church at town, but with me
the hours wore heavily upon my hands. My comrades amused
themselves in boisterous games of cards. Profanity used in a
fearful degree, thoughtlessly and heedlessly. I endeavored to
write a letter to sister Jane in the afternoon, but met with poor
success, and when I was called on to walk my beat in calm twi
light I felt relieved, and a thousand pleasant dreams and an
ticipations crowded upon my memory. Received a letter from
brother John written one week ago. He was surrounded by the
benign influence of a quiet home and carried with it like feel
ing to my longing spirit.

Huntsville, Monday, Feb. 1. Very heavy rain last night ac
companied with strong wind, and my last turn from three to
five was very uncomfortable. Cleared off early and we had a
fine day. Excused from drill in forenoon. Dress parade and
battery drill at 4 P. M. Put us through on quick time, which
was wearisome. Broke ranks to eat a supper of sour, clammy

[1711

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

bread and coffee, which, of course caused dissatisfaction among
the boys. Mail arrived, but none for me.

Huntsville, Tuesday, Feb. 2. Monotony of camp was broken
to-day by cheering down on our left at 12 M. and soon General
Smith and staff rode through camp, who was joined by Cap
tain Dillon, and immediately orders were given to march a gun
detachment to the guns immediately and fire a salute in honor
of the 59th and 48th Indiana, who were about to start for home
as veterans. The three Batteries were soon ready, "cocked
and primed". Captain Dillon as usual in quite a flurry. Or
dered Lieutenant Simpson to his quarters in a passion, then
told us the salute was to be commenced on the right, each gun
to fire in succession, at the raising of the flag for a signal, ' ' and

boys, I want you to give three of the d st cheers you ever gave

between each gun". After a little waiting the heroes marched
along in the valley below, headed by the Brigade band. Up
goes the flag and a volume of dense white smoke is emitted
from the gun on the right, accompanied with the thunder, then
another and another, and all have fired in rapid succession,
fourteen in all. Our guns were fired for the first time, giving
a crack which almost demolished my "tympanum". Act No.
2, cheer after cheer arose from the homeward bound veterans,
and by the Batteries hat waving, etc. Well do they deserve
the honor, and gladly was it given. Together we have strug
gled on every field of strife and won. They have the wishes
and gratitude of the comrades they leave behind. May they
have a happy time of it at home with relations and sweethearts.
Retired to parade ground on double quick, and broke ranks full
of sunlight. H. S. Keene, chief of artillery clerk, is going
with them on furlough. A fortunate man. A shoulder strap
for a friend.

Huntsville, Wednesday, Feb. 3. Colder night than we have
had for two weeks. Water frozen a quarter of an inch and

[172]

1864],

obliged to tuck up close to sleep warm. Instead of the usual
drill this morning, was general policing, ground to be swept
from rear of quarters to behind the guard house, about five
acres. Guard house and kitchen whitewashed. A well started.
I climbed Russell Hill for evergreen boughs for brooms in com
pany with a couple of others, and managed it so as not to re
turn until nearly recall; that is soldiers' strategy. ''Do no
more than you can" is the motto.

Huntsville, Thursday, Feb. 4. Cold night but pleasant day.
Nothing of importance to mar the general routine of camp life.
Had to put in our regular drill under Sergeant Hood. Camp
was inspected P. M. by the medical director of the 15th Corps,
seeing after the sanitary condition of the troops. A short
drill at parade and got through without incurring the displeas
ure of the commanding officer. Broke ranks to receive an un
usually large mail, which was soon dealt out to the eager sol
dier boys. Some went away light-hearted, others sorely disap
pointed.

Huntsville, Friday, Feb. 5. Rainy day, consequently no
drill. Laid in quarters all day reading papers received from
home. No mail, no news. Poor fare makes such days as these
hang heavily and moodily, and I found it uncommon hard to
keep a cheerful face upon it. All the disagreeable things
seemed to be heaped up for my particular benefit. But I did
not allow my feelings much sway and amused myself in read
ing, which always has a charm for me, and went to bed at night
with a: satisfied but a homesick heart.

Huntsville, Saturday, Feb. 6. A wet night and muddy morn
ing. On guard — to appear on guard mounting with polished
boots, all things accordingly. Spent the hours not on duty
reading Ned Buntline's thrilling tale of the times Ella.
Adams. One hundred horses distributed to the three Bat
teries by chief of artillery, having received them from

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AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

Nashville. We had thirty-two beautiful animals, large and fat.
- and J. Keller returned, the former after five months' con
finement in military prison at Vicksburg, the other from hos
pital, wounded at Champion Hills. They were gladly wel
comed.

Huntsville, Sunday, Feb. 7. Rough night for the guard.
Rainy and cold. The countersign "Vicksburg" which gave rise
to musings which aided in forgetting time. Relieved at 9 A. M.
Attended church in company with Griff, E. W. and D. J. D.
Service was held in the Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal
churches at the same hour (10 A. M.) Curiosity prompted to
attend the latter, an elegant furnished church of unique con
struction, Gothic style, poorly arranged for sound. The civil
ians were apparently of the aristocratic class, mostly women,
equalling the military in numbers. The white-robed minister
was a young intelligent Irishman, I should judge. A good
choir with the deep-toned organ opened the service with fitting
music, after which prayers were read and ceremonies performed
for nearly an hour and a half, which to me was mere mockery
of religion, reading their desires to God from an established
formula, but careful always to omit the prayer for the Presi
dent of the U. S. A. It was not worship. Ah no! the heart
was cold. It was but Phariseeical affectations. A short ser
mon on charity was read at the close. Very good, the effect
of which was tested by passing the plates which were returned
well laden with "soldier greenbacks". The money of that
government they will not pray for is very acceptable. I re
turned to camp, although not pleased with the exercise, yet I
trust, benefited. • The solemn notes of the organ had awakened
feelings that are too apt to lie dormant in the soldier's breast,
those that raise the mind above the din of common life, and
look to a future of immortality, purity, which all hope to ob
tain ere long. "Heaven is my home".

[174]

1864] DISCIPLINE

Huntsville, Monday, Feb. 8. Fine sunny day. Signed pay
roll in the morning, which was a pleasant duty as the "locker"
is getting light. Several articles were stolen from camp lately
and a guard was detailed to watch the quarters after night.
3 P. M. assembly sounded and all men forbidden entering their
tents, while Lieutenant Jenawein, Sergeant Hauxhurst, and Cor
poral Neefe searched the quarters. One revolver was recovered
in the Battery; 12th Wisconsin Battery, under the same pro
cess. Dillon very angry.

Huntsville, Tuesday, Feb. 9. Called on before finishing my
breakfast to go foraging with Baker. Two wagons from the
Battery fell in with a train of 150 wagons. Drove fast nine
miles south where there were one hundred negroes at work for
the government, husking. Protected by infantry. Entered a
field of 1,000 acres. Corn already jerked. Soon loaded and
started back at the head of the train. Arrived in camp by 3
P. M. Unloaded. Not very tired, but exceedingly hungry,
having had nothing since morning. Peter Green returned.
Mail arrived. None for me.

Huntsville, Wednesday. Feb. 10. A pleasant warm day.
Nothing of interest in camp to write about. Health and spirits
of the boys very good. But the mind chafes under the fetters
thrown around it by military discipline and style, which results
in a goodly amount of cruelty .by many, while the officers too
often seek but to irritate such feelings the more. Twelve guards
are detailed every day, six of whom are to watch the quarters
after taps. No use, and intended only as punishment, which
causes the just to suffer, bringing us on every five days instead
of seven.

Huntsville, Thursday, Feb. 11. Very cold night. Heavy
frost. Owing to the heavy guard details, I was on guard, con
sequently exempt from other duties. A long and tedious day
in the guard house and on post. 3rd Brigade broke up camp

[175]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

this morning and have gone to Knoxville, it is said, which re
minds us that we likely will soon follow. 4th Minnesota is on
the Tennessee River at "Whitesburg, ten miles south, where
preparations are being made to throw a pontoon bridge across.
Cavalry ever on the move to and fro. Clothing issued. All
compelled to dress up for parade, etc. Caisson, etc. arrived.

Huntsville, Friday, Feb. 12. The caissons that were brought
up late last night were dressed in their proper position, com
pleting our park. They are rifle caissons and will have to be
remodelled before ammunition can be packed. Several boxes of
ordnance stores arrived, but some yet on the road. Cloudy,
foggy day with signs of rain. Feel unwell. Feverish, head
ache, from a slight cold caught on guard. 12th Battery went
to town this afternoon to draw their guns. Did not return for
parade, which was hastily dismissed.

Huntsville, Saturday, Feb. 13. Nights very cold, day warm
and cloudy. Assembly sounded at 8 A. M. with orders to ' ' turn
out" and police the park and grounds speedily, as we expected
to march to town for pay at 10 A. M. No drill or parade, but
we did not get paid off. Camp unusually lively during the day.
Ball playing and the boxing gloves in constant use. At night
a merry dance went on in the open air with music from the
fiddle and bow. Ladies dispensed with from necessity. Mail
arrived but none for me.

Huntsville, Sunday, Feb. 14. Raining heavily most of the
day. Clothing inspection at 8 A. M. by Lieutenant Simpson,
with the reading of Sunday ..orders. Weather prevented our
attending church. 3 P. M. two agents of the Chirstian Enquirer
and Covenant. 3 P. M. two agents of the Christian Commission
held divine services under the tree in front of the tent to the
members of the 6th and 12th Batteries. The afternoon was dis
agreeable but a large crowd turned out to listen. Preached

[176]

1864] A CONFISCATED FENCE'

from the parable of the Sower, and advanced ideas that to me
were inconsistent and offensive.

Huntsville, Monday, Feb. 15. Raining and disagreeable. On
guard again. Five men in guard house for changing off on
guard duty. Sixteen guards detailed. Health very good.

Huntsville, Tuesday, Feb. 16. Weather quite cold and windy.
Court-martial convened with Dillon for president, to try the
case of - - and others. In session all day.

Huntsville, Wednesday, Feb. 17. Weather cold — freezing
hard. Seventeen recruits and T. J. Hungerford arrived this
afternoon from the State. Thirty-six more expected soon. Two
hours' drill as usual in the morning. Parade P. M. Report
of the court-martial read at parade by Adjutant Simpson.
Honorably acquitted, as they did it by consent of corporal of
the guard. Corporal - - arrested for granting such consent.

Huntsville, Thursday, Feb. 18. Camp policed early. 9 A. M.
Company marched down town to receive pay for the months of
November and December, 1863. Returned at 2 P. M. Camp
and park inspected by Captain Budlong, I. G. of the Division.

Huntsville, Friday, Feb. 19. Weather continued raw and
cold. On guard. Suffering from a severe cold and the hours
passed slowly and heavily. No drill. No mail.

Huntsville, Saturday, Feb. 20. As soon as breakfast was over
I hitched a new team and drove out to a confiscated fence, a
mile off, for a load of lumber, as the two Hungerfords were de
sirous of coming in with us, and we must build a larger one
[hut]. After we were all loaded, a guard commanded us to
unload, but after some talk allowed us to leave in quiet with
our lumber. Tore down our "humble cot" and six of us went
to work in earnest to erect a more commodious one. Had no
tent. Built it entirely of lumber. Had it almost completed by

12 [ 177 1

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY i.i864

night. Was quite tired, with a settled cold on my lungs, al
most sick.

Huntsville, Sunday, Feb. 21. Weather a little milder. Mil
ton Hungerford and I attended the Methodist church in the
forenoon. Service in the Battery in the afternoon by agent of
Christian Commission. Mail arrived. Received a long looked
for letter from Hannah. Twenty-one days on the road.

Huntsville, Monday, Feb. 22. All the house on foraging de
tail. T. J. being unwell, was excused, so he stayed at home to
take care of family. Train in charge of Lieutenant Jenawein
travelled in southwesterly direction fifteen miles. Walked most
of the way. Jerked our corn from a five hundred acre field.
The 2nd and 3rd Divisions' train out storing corn at Madison
Depot. Returned by sundown, awful tired, and with severe
sore throat. Evie was mounted and procured four chickens
and a hog in exchange for coffee. Also got a mutton for she
bang.

A salute of thirty-six guns was fired by the Battery during
our absence in honor of Washington's Birthday. Sorry that I
was not present. At night a grand ball was to be held by
shoulder straps in town, but they failed to find but four ladies
to join in their festivities. They ended in a drunken carousal,
their maniac yells rending the midnight air. The enlisted men
met with better success I understand, and had a gay time.
They could not obtain the liquor owing to the restriction on
trade. When will such corruption among military men be
stopped 1

Huntsville, Tuesday, Feb. 23. To-day we were all on guard
again, having had but three days' rest. I was third relief. P.
Green for misdemeanor (noticed by none but - — ) at guard
mounting was put under guard, and sentenced to hard labor
digging stumps for five days, a piece of cruel despotism and
tyranny. Lieutenant Hood returned, having come in charge of

[ 178 ]

1864] CAMP MEDICINE

a squad of infantry recruits. Ours were left in Camp Randall.
Sergeant Hamilton had a recruiting commission for the 36th
Infantry with good show for commission. Throat swollen and
very painful. Caused a heavy fever and it was difficult to keep
moving on my beat.

Huntsville, Wednesday, Feb. 24. Weather once more very
mild and pleasant. Laid in tent all day. Throat pains me se
verely. Tonsils much swollen. Did not go out to drill, equip
ments enough having been received, the standing gun drill in
stead of squad, much more profitable especially for the recruits.
A skirmish is reported having occurred at Whitesburg with the
4th Minnesota Infantry and others, killing four, wounding fif
teen. Two infantry regiments started to their support. Artil
lery ordered to be in readiness.

Huntsville, Thursday, Feb. 25. Slept but little during the
night, deglutition being very painful and throat much swollen.
Reported at sick call (the first time since I left Vicksburg) and
was excused from duty. Four desperate big powders of qui
nine, opium, etc. to be taken. Retired to quarters, burned the
powders and went to bed with cold water application to throat.
Could eat nothing whatsoever all day. Had a raging fever, all
throat very painful. Bathed in the evening. Fever a little
lower.

Huntsville, Friday, Feb. 26. Felt very much better than
yesterday. Could eat a little with pain to-day. Off duty and
laid in tent all day, most of the time alone. Boys all on duty,
Hungerfords foraging. Carriages washed preparatory to paint
ing. Sergeant Hauxhurst under arrest for refusing to obey
Sergeant Hood's orders on drill.

Huntsville, Saturday, Feb. 27. Throat better. Tumor bro
ken. Bad cough yet. Excused from guard, it being my turn.
Camp policed. Lieutenant Clark's wife arrived. No parade,

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AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [18(M

Mail. Carriages all painted over with olive paint. Twelve on
the sick roll this morning. Weather exceedingly changeable.

Huntsville, Sunday, Feb. 28. Fine pleasant day. Attended
church with Cousin Griffith. Went to the Presbyterian church.
A sermon fraught with Southern principles. Services in camp
this afternoon by Chaplain of 7th Iowa. P. B. Moss, after a
short illness, died very suddenly at 2 P. M. It was wholly un
expected by all, and spread gloom over all the camp.

Huntsville, Monday, Feb. 29. Rained very heavily all night
and continued through the day without interruption.

10 A. M. the funeral ceremonies of Moss took place. The
procession in charge of Sergeant Hood, his former commander.
Sixth piece in the lead followed by the caisson on which the
coffin was placed, the hind chests taken off. The Company
marched after it in column of detachments, his own Platoon in
front, officers in the rear. Mounted in this way the procession
marched about two miles passing through town. The roads
very bad indeed. Formed hollow square at the grave. Chap
lain offered a short prayer before the burial. It was a solemn
but tearless scene, comrades paying the last tribute of respect
to a fellow soldier, leaving his remains among the honored dead
of Huntsville, over whose head no marble slab and carved obe
lisk was reared in ,memoriam, but to him a rude head-board was
all that told of his resting place. What a consolation to the
bereaved mother in Wisconsin to see the place where he lay.

Mustered for January and February pay by Lt. T. R. Hood.

Huntsville, Tuesday, March 1. A dreary, rainy day. Hud
dled indoors all day. Whiled away the heavy moments as best
we could with dominoes, etc. Mail arrived in afternoon with
its usual supply of papers and letters, and the evening was
quickly passed in reading from the papers aloud. 4th Minne
sota returned from Whitesburg. Expected to start for home
on furlough but instead received orders to go to Chattanooga.

[180]

1864] NEGRO SCHOOLS

H. S. Keene returned from his furlough of thirty days in Wis
consin.

Huntsville, Wednesday, March 2. A very cold night, the
wind whistling through the cracks of our shebang. Slept al
most cold. Ground froze hard in the morning. The morning
air dry and clear. On guard. Mounted at 9 A. M. Third re
lief. No one put in guard house. L. Leach, under guard, who
has been confined for sixteen days in this miserable noisy hole
for a trifling crime, but he stood it with resignation. Obliged
to watch him in his slumber during the weary hours of the
night. After relieved, lay beside my charge and slept.

Huntsville, Thursday, March 3. A pleasant day. Off duty
at 9 A. M. Did not come on till six hours hence according to
regulations. A very heavy detail sent foraging with brigade
teams, ours being allowed a short rest. Policing in the after
noon. J. M. Hood was to-day appointed orderly sergeant; Cor
poral Alba Sweet, 6th sergeant, vice Hood promoted; private
Malish, corporal, vice Sweet promoted; Sergeant Hauxhurst
court-martialed to-day; charges, refusing to obey Sergeant
Hood's orders. The result I have not learned. He is able to
defend his case I think, able to prove much that the officers
don't like.

Huntsville, Friday, March 4. Evie Evans and myself went
to the city on pass. Visited the Christian Commission rooms.
Bought stamps. Also went to the colored school under charge
of Chaplain of 17th Colored. Had school-teachers, being volun
teers from the ranks, teaching the little woolly-heads their
''A. B. C.'s". One class of youngsters was taught by a large
negro. A class of young ladies was reading in the Second
Reader. All seemed attentive and anxious to receive the in
struction but poorly imparted to them. Harnesses were opened
and distributed to the platoons. I was given one set. No
horses.

[181]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

Huntsville, Saturday, March 5. No drill to-day. General po
licing. Instead old harness being packed in the empty boxes
in place of new. Expect to get them off soon. 4th Minnesota
started on their homeward bound trip to-day at 12 M. with eol-
jrs flying, and I dare say hearts fluttering. About sixty were
left, as they would not re-enlist. Smallpox quite prevalent.
Lieutenant Clark is down with it in an adjoining house. Pad-
dleford was sent off last night to smallpox camp. His case was
quite advanced. All broken out.

Huntsville, Sunday, March 6. A most delightful day. On
guard. Second relief. - still under arrest. Knapsack in

spection at 8 A. M. as usual. Preaching in camp at 2 P. M.
Very good, by member of Christian Commission.

Huntsville, Monday, March 7. A cloudy, dismal morning.
Felt gloomy and sad in spirits. After dinner in hopes of driv
ing such feelings away, I took my pen to write to Thomas.
While thus engaged, I was interrupted by a loud talking and
cheering in front of the tent, which called me out. There I
found that the recruits had arrived from Camp Randall, thirty
stout and hearty looking men with mouths wide open, gazing
at their "to be" comrades. Anyone could see that they were
raw recruits, but nearly everyone had friends to receive and
congratulate, but I knew no one, but was cheered by the hand
ing of a package to me by a stranger. It was from home.
Hardly waiting to go to my tent, I tore it open, found a pair
of socks knit by the hands of my mother; she who so often in
times gone by has contributed to my comfort and happiness,
had again remembered me in her labors, while suffering severely
under the ruthless hand of disease. Oh how precious she is to
me, and how fondly I will cherish her humble gift. Also a
number of the Phrenological Journals bound in with the calico
strip as of old — my favorite paper, loaded with valuable read
ing matter; also a gift from Brother John, a diary such as I

[182]

1864] DANCE IN CAMP

need. The whole so impressed me with the scenes of home and
its endearments that I could hardly refrain the tears. When
the mail arrived I received four letters — nearly enough for one
day.

Huntsville, Tuesday, March 8. Rainy. Appearance of bad
weather. Henry Robson taken to smallpox camp, having been
sick in camp for nearly a week with varioloid. On duty, haul
ing wood for the cooks both morning and afternoon. Recruits
were drilled by Sergeant Sweet. Reports of several court-mar
tials read at dress parade, of artillery men. - — of our Battery,
ten days hard labor after twenty in confinement in guard house.
News reached us of a terrible calamity having befallen the
homeward bound veterans of the 4th Minnesota. Cars running
off the track, killing eighteen soldiers, five or six wounded.
Having braved many battles, thus to die on the way to see those
whom they loved.

Huntsville, Wednesday, March 9. Hitched up four guns and
caisson and went out for battery drill under Lieutenant Hood.
Horses balky and unused to work, had to unhitch one and re
turned with but little drill. I rode on lead, third caisson.
Standing gun drill and parade in the afternoon. Rainy even
ing. Privates had a grand ball to-night in Alabama Hotel to
try to excel the shoulder-strap fizzle of Feb. 22. I understand
they had a grand time. No officers allowed, no one with shoul
der straps on. Forty ladies in all. Lieutenant Clark little bet
ter with the smallpox.

Huntsville, Thursday, March 10. Had a very stormy night
but a fine day. I was on guard P. M., first relief, on horses
in the daytime and tents in the evening. Midnight tour very
stormy and dark, but managed to pass the time quickly in
thinking of all but the present. Drills and parades as usual.

[1831

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY 11864

Huntsville, Friday, March 11. Felt fresh this morning, not
withstanding the guard duty of last night. At 9 A. M.
took a stroll up Eussell Hill. Found violets in bloom, picked
a bouquet of them with peach and plum blossoms and put them
on my desk. Evans out in charge of foraging train, with fif
teen men. General Matthies was seen in camp to-day. The last
time I saw him was leaving the field of Mission Ridge covered
with blood, a sturdy and honest old general, loved by all his
command. Congratulatory resolutions read at parade from
Congress to Sherman and his men, also an order from John A.
Logan to protect fences and houses. All advantages given to
the citizens to raise their own subsistence. Boys all jolly.
Games of ball on all day and late in the evening.

Huntsville, Saturday, March 12. Very cold night but warm
and beautiful day. No drill to-day, it being general policing,
which was done in a short time. Games daily in camp, ball,
etc. Spent most of the day reading the Phrenological Jour
nals received from home. At night I laid awake long and rest
less, thinking of home and its endearments. After sleep came
I dreamt of mother. T. J. Hungerford quite unwell this even
ing, heavy fever. Exercised rather too much for his strength
in the morning, and his system impaired from previous illness.

Huntsville, Sunday, March 13. A delightful Sabbath morn
ing. T. J. Hungerford very sick, heavy fever and hard breath
ing. Afraid he is going to have a fever. Bathed him, towels
kept around him, and all we can do for him is done gladly.
After inspection 8 A. M. attended Sabbath school and meeting
at the Methodist Church with Booth and D. Evans. The so
ciety was in deep mourning for Mrs. Jordan, principal teacher
and superintendent of the Sabbath school, who was killed in the
railroad a'ccident of the 5th inst. Fitting resolutions were
passed by the school in memoriam. The minister preached
from the 35th and 36th verses of the fourth chapter of St.

[1841

1864] WAR SERMONS

John, a discourse filled with hell fire and eternal misery, with
but little consolation to the many bereaved mothers and sisters
present who had lost their all in the Confederate army. Al
though enemies, I could but feel for their distressing sobs, that
were audible all over the room. In the afternoon the day was
so cheering that I could not resist the temptation of another
walk to town, where in a crowded house of soldiers and citizens
I listened to an excellent practical sermon on the ten virgins,
wise and foolish.

Huntsville, Monday, March 14. Was one of a detail of
twenty men to go foraging with two days' rations in haver
sacks, blankets and overcoats, etc. Fell in at 8 A. M. to go
with brigade teams thirty in number, all to be loaded by artil
lerymen. A ride of nearly twenty miles in a mule wagon
brought us to the corn field at 3 P. M., two men to a wagon.
Jerked it from the rows, and in about an hour we started back,
crossed Beaver Dam Creek and drove hard till sundown.
Crossed at Liberty Point, eleven miles from camp, near a few
out-buildings. No rails allowed to be burnt by Lieutenant
Eddy in charge. Those that were prepared cooked their coffee
in their cans and we all ate. It was very cold and blustering,
not in the least enticing to sleep out of doors, but necessity
compelled it. Three of us made our beds together and slept
quite warm until midnight, when we awoke to find it sprinkling
and the wind driving threatening black clouds over us. Not
wishing to get soaked, we pulled out, rolled up our blankets,
etc. and sought shelter. The storm passed harmlessly over, but
we found but little sleep. I rolled in my blanket on the stoop
of the dwelling house, where I slept some. Dreamed of being
buried in snow drifts and surrounded by ice. Awoke to find
it nearly a reality. Benumbed with cold and clogged throat, I
sought the fire to wait for the dawn. Long and anxiously did
we watch the coming of the morning.

[185]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [i864

Huntsville, Tuesday, March 15. Teamsters and boys up
early. Those that were not scared out of bed had a good
night's sleep. Felt quite dull and severe cold settled in throat.
Went into a citizen 's house to procure my breakfast. Had warm
biscuit, buttermilk, etc. for 50c, and started with the train.
Walked nearly all the way to camp where we arrived at 11
A. M. Found three letters to me bearing date of the 6th, and
all the disagreeable was soon forgotten in the joy of the pres
ent. Mother much better and in her own room. Sergeant
Hauxhurst after a long period of arrest put on duty. His
court-martial read at dress parade. His sentence by the court
was reduction to the ranks, but was modified by General
Matthies to the loss of one month's pay, for previous meritor
ious conduct as non-commissioned officer. He suffers from a
jealous clique.

Huntsville, Wednesday, March 16. A very cold and bluster
ing day. All feel pinched as in January. Tommy Hunger-
ford continues quite ill. Fever has left him, but he suffers from
inflamation of the lungs. Confined to his bed all the time,
and kept drowsy all the time by noxious drugs. Byron Bab-
cock taken to the post hospital last night and M. Murphy to
day. He is very bad with measles. Hauled wood in the after
noon with D. Wallace and Milton Hungerford, ash-wood from
the hill which is needed to keep warm. Bought Atlantic
Monthly of J. Lester. Good reading.

Huntsville, Thursday, March 17. Day very fine. Cold night.
Heavy frost in the morning. Policed camp in the morning.
Inspected in the afternoon by Captains Lee and Dillon. T. J.
Hungerford none better. His brother detailed to nurse him and
I to take care of Milton's team. Michael Murphy died in post
hospital last night at 3 A. M. No mail or papers. Reported
capture of the train near Tullahoma with all on board, burn
ing the cars and tearing up the track. Much anxiety is felt,

[186]

1864j THE SICK AND DYING

as Generals Grant and McPherson were expected on it. If they
should be captured it certainly would be a calamity.

Huntsville, Friday, March 18. A beautiful day. Sick none
the better. Tommy is very low, unable to be up, while he is
kept strong by medicine all of the time, lllth Illinois Infan
try marched in from Nashville -direct from the State, the largest
regiment I have seen South, said to be attached to our Division.
Matthies is commanding Division. Smith on furlough.

9 A. M. Formed procession and marched to the funeral of
Murphy, fourth piece leading the procession. A chaplain offi
ciated at the grave. Received mail in the afternoon. Reports
of the guerrilla raid not as hideous as yesterday.

Huntsville, Saturday, March 19. Very cold night. Cloudy
day. Appearance of rain. Have not felt well since I was out
foraging. A bad cold settled on my lungs, a dull headache.
Excused from guard this morning because I took care of team.
Tommy very low. I fear he is fast approaching consumption.
He has eaten hardly anything for a week. I made some farina
gruel this afternoon of which he ate a little. Kept constantly
under the effects of medicine, sleepy, mind wandering. All
that we can do for him is done willingly, but it is far from be
ing like home.

Huntsville, Sunday, March 20. Awoke with bad cough and
sore throat. Attended church at 10 A. M. The Presbyterian
Church was crowded to overflowing by citizens, but few sol
diers could gain admittance. I was up in the gallery. The
funeral sermon of Mrs. Jordan was preached, very effective
and eloquent. Jackson Moss and colored Henry were taken to
the smallpox camp this afternoon.

Evening. I am notified to be ready to start in the morning
on a five days' scout, my team going with the left Section.
Drew two days' rations of hard-tack.

[187]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

Huntsville, Monday, March 21. Reveille sounded at 4 A. M.
Fed and harnessed before breakfast, and prepared for the
march, two days' rations in haversack, three days' in wagon.
As soon as it was light, hitched up on the sixth piece, the cais
son to be left behind; seven cannoneers. It was very cold,
windy morning. Waited until 8 A. M. when the order came to
unhitch and unharness, the expedition over, which was gladly
obeyed by all except the recruits, they being yet anxious to taste
the poetry of war. The day continued very cold and very un
comfortable for the sick, which are daily increasing. T. J.
Hungerford continues very low, yet the doctor speaks cheer
fully. He was visited by the medical director of the Division
to-day. A heavy mail received, of which I received two goodly
ones. Corporal Dixon was to-day made sergeant of our Pla
toon, vice Hamilton promoted. E. W. Evans promoted to cor
poral to fill vacancy, in which capacity he had been acting for
over a year. Sat up with Tommy till 1 A. M., giving him pow
ders every three hours; stimulants, liquors, every two. All
alone, a time for sad reflections and longing thoughts.

Huntsville, Tuesday, March 22. All were surprised this
morning upon looking out to find the ground covered with pure,
soft and downy snow, and the air yet thick with the falling
feathers. It continued till 9 A. M., leaving eight inches on the
ground. To the natives it was looked upon as a strange occur
rence in this territory, a phenomenon, but to us from the stern
and living North it was as good as a furlough, a sudden tran
sition to old Wisconsin. What a calm serenity it spreads on
earth in its pure, spotless white, covering over the disagreeable,
the footprints of suffering and wrongs that are so indelibly im
printed everywhere upon the fair but wicked South. What a
longing for home it created, as home scenes and accompani
ments were brought vividly to the mind's eye. Many were the
thoughts of sleigh rides, hills, girls, etc. by those that are to
enjoy such. One party I saw as I went to water. They had

[188]

1864J WELCOME SNOW

rigged up a sled with young mules hitched, and a sonorous cow
bell for music. They paraded the streets of Huntsville and
were looked upon by the native fair as crazy, but they knew
nothing of the fun. But this uncommon visitor was not to last
long, and the Southern sun soon made it withdraw slowly but
surely.

A bad day for the sick. Tommy very low all day and pain
ful. Evie was on guard, so I sat up with him till one o'clock
in the morning, fed him medicine regularly with a cold appli
cation to be changed every fifteen minutes. He has not eaten
anything for days, save what I have fed him with a spoon.
Fed him farina gruel twice through the night with the spoon.
Coughs severely. Chas. Hutchinson and J. McCann sick with
the same disease.

Huntsville, Wednesday, March 23. Warm day. Snow all
gone by night making it very slushy and muddy. T. J. Hun-
gerford apparently a little better, but very weak. Sat up long
enough to make his bed and bathe him. Hauled wood in fore
noon, drilled in afternoon on gun. No mail. I have a bad cold
settled on my lungs. The right lung pains me considerably.
Alex Eay taken to smallpox hospital, making five in all. Lieu
tenant Clark and Paddleford wholly recovered. Captain

got into a barroom rowr with a citizen in town this afternoon,
for which he was put under arrest, but returned to-night. Hurt
his hand.

Huntsville, Thursday, March 24. Weather warm and ground
drying. We have a very pleasant ride every morning to the
big spring in town to water our horses, and back, about two
miles. Have to keep in the ranks, which is not as agreeable
as if allowed to go as we pleased. Tommy gaining a little.
Through the kindness of one of the boys' lady acquaintances,
he was supplied with a rocking chair in which he sat for some

[189]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY ris64

time. A new hospital tent is being put up on the hill right
above us for the batteries, where he will be removed soon.

Huntsville, Friday, March 25. Rainy and disagreeable day.
Wrote a letter and read most of the day. Feel quite dull and
troubled with bad cough.. Four more recruits arrived from
Wisconsin, having been left behind sick when the others came.
Two horses died to-day, which is the same nearly every day,
They have a species of distemper, and will die soon unless pre
vented.

Huntsville, Saturday, March 26. A warm, windy day. No
drill or parade. Washed in the morning. Policed camp and
park in the afternoon, which took us about two hours. De
tail of seventeen went out foraging with Lieutenant Jenawein,
Will not return until to-morrow. Orders received to put this
Division upon a "field footing" immediately, which is sup
posed to mean something. The train from Nashville to-day
came in by way of Decatur. Major Generals Sherman and
McPherson were on board, and are now in town where the
headquarters are to be established.

Huntsville, Sunday, March 27. Knapsack inspection 8 A. M.
as usual. Complimentary resolutions passed by the Wisconsin
Legislature to the soldiers in the field and the heroic dead were
read to us, which is much sweeter than Order "No. 6" which
we have heard for months. Attended church this forenoon.
Text 23rd verse, 35th chapter of St. Matthew.

T. J. Hungerford so far recovered that he was able t< go to
the hospital tent with the aid of two men. His brother Mil
ton goes with him as nurse. No mail to-day again.

Huntsville, Monday, March 28. To-day again was one full of
disagreeableness. Cold rain, windy, so that we could not have
a fire without smoking us out. Spent the long hours as best
we could, playing dominoes and checkers with Griff and D.

[190]

1864] MOTHER BICKERDYKE

J. D. etc. A very large mail arrived, but unfortunately I was
forgotten this time. Dress parade 4 P. M. Complimentary
resolutions to veterans received from Congress. I have a very
bad cold yet, with a wearisome cough. Bathed and wore wet
compresses on chest.

Huntsville, Tuesday, March 29. Rained exceedingly heavy
during the night, but cleared off in the morning. Continued
cool through the day. Our camp was visited to-day by Mother
Bickerdyke with four mule teams loaded with good things from
the North for the soldiers. Left us three barrels of potatoes,
turnips, carrots, etc., one barrel of sourkraut with one of dried
applies. Noble woman. I still remember with gratitude the
motherly interest she took in my welfare while lying in the
hospital at Corinth. Here again she comes with that which
she has gathered by her own labor in the North, not leaving it
to be wholly absorbed by surgeons, directors and officers, as is
too often the case with sanitary goods. She comes along in a
» mule wagon and delivers it herself to the ' ' good boys ' ' as she
terms us, without seeking the officers. She drew a large crowd
around her soon. Her glowing, welcoming face, filled with cor
diality, had a magnetic influence upon the hearts of all, such a
contrast to the haughty, disdainful looks we are accustomed to
receive from women in general. May God bless her noble, self-
sacrificing spirit, is the soldier's prayer.

Had a most hearty old-fashioned supper of potatoes and
onions with gravy, which was better for our grease-laden sys
tems than, loads of cathartics. We had about twelve pounds of
dried apples for our mess of four. Suddenly this afternoon at 4
P. M. the left Section was ordered to prepare to move. At 5
P. M., the two pieces left under Lieutenant Hood with five days'
rations. One of my horses sick so I did not have to go. The
other one was taken as extra horse. Lieutenant Clark assumed
command of the Battery and took us out to parade — consider
ably scarred.

[1911

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

Huntsville, Wednesday, March 30. A fine day, warm, the
vegetable kingdom springing fast. Turned my sick horse out
to die this morning. Obtained a pass of Lieutenant Jenawein
to go to the city. Called at shoemaker's shop, fixed my boots,
and took a ramble through the town to the cemetery, and spent
half an hour in meditation among the sacred dead. There lay,
side by side, the rich and the poor. Here are coward, patriot
and traitor. Truly all earthly passes away and leaves but
faint traces behind. Visited an artist's gallery where I saw
the most beautiful works of art I ever saw, representing the
human form so lifelike that it needed but the speech to appear
with life. The room was filled with different scenes, and the
cold white marble statuary by them looked cold and expression
less. Returned to camp weary, but well pleased with my morn
ing's work. Dinner was over, but they left a rarity of pota
toes, etc.

At dress parade we were looked upon by four Northern la
dies, one of whom was Mother Bickerdyke, having ridden up
from town in an ambulance. The ranks, which before they
came under the soft glances of women, were irregular, steps
broken, heads drooping, all carelessness, now closed up and all
moved with true military precision. A natural impulse to
please took hold of them, I guess. After parade they were
conducted through camp examining our quarters, with a pleas
ant smile and a kind word for all, spreading sunshine as they
went and filling the heart with fond recollections and pleasing
hopes. All were Northern women upon missions of love, one I
understood a Wisconsin one, a young lady of twenty-five, the
others elderly.

Huntsville, Thursday, March 31. Dark, cloudy day. Washed
in the morning, necessary but unpleasant duty, then staid in
the hospital a little in the afternoon while the nurse went rid
ing for exercise. T. J. H. weak but gaining. Herron has a
terrible head from erysipelas — hair, eyebrows, all coming out.

[192]

1864] FIRST THEATRE

Corp. Knapp rode into camp from left Section. They are posted
in a fort on the Tennessee River at Whitesburg, fifteen miles
distant, watching the enemy on the other side, fortified. Re
turned with nine men; comfortably quartered in vacant houses.
Played ball all of the afternoon.

Huntsville, Friday, April 1. Although the day was wet and
rainy the boys played well the part of April fool, and it was
one continuous jest all day. The bugler blew the breakfast call
half an hour too early, calling out the men in the rain to
awaken to the fact that it was April fool, etc. A squad of eight
men were sent off at 3 P. M. on horseback to relieve the vet
erans at Whitesburg so they can return in the morning to be
mustered in. Evie went with them so I am all alone. 80th
Ohio started home on the 5 P. M. train.

Huntsville, Saturday, April 2. Dry day. No duty to-day ex
cept the policing in the afternoon which was soon completed.
63rd Illinois Veteran Volunteers started on their homeward-
bound journey this evening. As»they marched out to the music
of their fine martial band, each heart bounded with animation
at the prospect of meeting the familiar faces once more. The
48th and 59th Indiana Volunteers marched into their old camp
ing ground which they had left two months ago for home. They
had marched all the way from Nashville in five days, one hun
dred and thirty miles, footsore and tired with three years of
service before them. In company with Griff and D. J. D. vis
ited the theatre, first one I ever saw. Well pleased.

Huntsville, Sunday, April 3. The mail that came in last
night was not distributed till this morning. I received three
goodly letters. Inspection and reading of order No. 6, at 8
A. M. after which I went to church. Attended the Methodist
Sabbath School, took part in the soldiers' class taught by a cap
tain. Listened to a sermon in the elegant Presbyterian church

13 [ 193 1

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY f.i864

on atonement ; poor and inconsistent. Wrote a letter to brother
John in the afternoon.

General McPherson rode through camp this afternoon at 3
P. M., the idol of all soldiers. Had not seen him since we left
Vicksburg before. A true gentleman and noble patriot. Teams
back from Whitesburg after rations for men.

Huntsville, Monday, April 4. A cloudy, rainy day. Orders
given us at 8 A. M. to put our tents in order preparatory to
an inspection by medical director. All filth to be removed.
Dirty clothes were washed, etc. In the evening the artillery
boys listened to a stirring speech on the parade ground by Rev.
Collins, chaplain 57th Illinois, a spicy and able speaker. Kept
the crowd laughing much of the time, at the same time encour
aging and instructing each one in the duty of the hour, and
had a good effect. Sold several tracts.

Huntsville, Tuesday, April 5. Did not rain to-day but we
had but little sunshine. Watched in the hospital from mid
night till 4 A. M. with Andy Herron, suffering from severe at
tack of erysipelas in the face and head. Changed wet cloths
on his face every fifteen minutes. While drilling in company
in front of officers' tents, under the order of Sergeant, I and
David Evans were taken out of the ranks and Corporal Malish
put over us to drill us in front of tents for two hours by order
of Captain. He was sitting in front of his tent and said we
laughed. in the ranks. It being the first time I ever was pun
ished, I was much hurt in feelings, much more so as it was for
a crime that I am not aware that I ever committed, and was
not observed by any except Captain who was eight or ten rods
off. He was out of humor at the company drill and (it being
very muddy) as is customary, he must visit his wrath upon
somebody. After two hours' marching as culprits before the
whole camp, we were dismissed, but I felt no guilt, as my con
duct was not improper.

[194]

1864J CAMP GAMES

Huntsville, Wednesday, April 6. A beautiful sunny day, so
warm in midday as to make it uncomfortable with coat on.
Policed camp thoroughly in morning, and company drills in
the afternoon. Veterans were at last mustered in at 2 P. M.
by the mustering officer. Consisted of their taking the oath
together, thirty in number, two others being in pest hospital.
My horse brought back from the river sick. Keeler bled, row-
elled, physicked him. I guess he will be all right to-morrow.
Ought to. Played chess most of the day. New thing for me.
Fascinating.

Huntsville, Thursday, April 7. A beautiful spring day, grass
growing, birds caroling. All nature seems to be putting forth
new life. The soldiers with the rest took up the spirit, and
the camp was lively with outdoor spirits all day. Horses
turned out to picket, but little grass for them, yet I was de
tailed to watch them in the afternoon, consequently did not
drill. Heard from friend Evie, my mate, carried up by one of
the boys. He is doing well and enjoying himself. I would
like to go out there to him. I don't like to live alone very well.
Large mail, but none for me this time.

Huntsville, Friday, April 8. A fine day. Drill as usual.
Played ball spare time in the morning. Wrote to brother
Thomas in the afternoon. Pleasant task when my mind is tran
quil. 48th and detachment of 59th Indiana went out at 4 P. M,
to reinforce Whitesburg, it is supposed. Deserters say that the
enemy is reinforcing heavily and making preparations to throw
a pontoon bridge across the river some dark night. Rumor
says John Morgan was in town lately with a load of wood. If
so, I don't think our sixteen pieces on Russell Hill looked very
encouraging to him. Come on, John, we are ready.

Huntsville, Saturday, April 9. Cloudy and showery. A
train of sixty wagons started out for forage for the artillery,
a detail of forty men sent from each battery, having but a small

[1951

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

squad in camp. What few there were, on fatigue all the fore
noon, husking and overhauling corn pile, rain beating and
spoiling it. Policed camp thoroughly in the afternoon and I
was sent with two others after load of wood. By night I was
quite tired. Received a large mail. I was blessed with two
fine ones from Hannah and Thomas. Did me a heap of good.

Huntsville, Sunday, April 10. Beautiful weather. A "big
scare*' up this morning, expecting the Eebs in from the other
side of the river. Orderlies said to be running all night. Early
this morning Captain Dillon reported to headquarters for fur
ther intelligence, leaving orders to allow nobody to leave camp.
Teams from Whitesburg returned after rations. The boys then
were kept at their posts all night. Foraging trains came in
early half loaded. The roads very bad. Went to town in the
afternoon but there was no church. Returned and read Bart-
lett's Sermon in Covenant, which was much better.

Huntsville, Monday, April 11. Spent the day in the usual
way. Two hours' gun drill in the morning, then game of ball;
an hour company drill in the afternoon; a game or two of
chess, then parade 4 P. M. ; reading, writing, the remainder of
the time till retreat at 8 P. M. when I made down my cot. In
the quiet of alone I lay down, a few yearning thoughts of home,
mother, etc. and all is oblivion till reveille calls me forth from
the land of nod. A little after noon we were startled by a ter
rible explosion near the depot. A caisson of the Illinois Bat-
tery had exploded while returning from drill, killing six can
noneers instantly and wounding two. A very sad affair. Bod
ies torn to shreds.

Huntsville, Tuesday, April 12. Clouds and sunshine strug
gled for supremacy all day, neither having possession long
at a time. Drew clothing. I got a new blouse and pants.
Brigade guard was mounted together this morning on our par
ade ground, infantry and artillery, by the 1st Brigade staff

[196]

1864] REVIEW

officer, a band of fifes and drums acting as Brigade band in ab
sence of a brass one. All was ordered to be put slick this af
ternoon again, dishes washed, cooking utensils scoured, etc.
The medical director of the camp inspected us at 4 P. M.

Huntsville, Wednesday, April 13. A delightful day for the
great review that took place at 2 P. M. of the remnant of the
3rd Division that is left here. We had no horses to take out,
our Battery, but went as drivers on one of our caissons with
the Illinois Battery to fill the place of the one that was "blowed
up" Monday. The imposing line was formed on the race
course consisting of five regiments of infantry and two bat
teries. The bands rolled out their cheers as Generals McPher-
son, Logan and Smith, with their respective staffs, rode down
the lines, on gay steeds glittering with their military embellish
ments. After they rode by, they took a position in front, and
we passed in review, artillery in front, in column of sections
followed by infantry in divisions. Returned to camp, each im
pressed with the prospect of a move, which heretofore has al
ways been the result in this armj^.

Sixteen of Cogswell's Battery veterans left for home this
morning. The Nashville and Stevenson R. R. is abandoned,
and all the transportation runs through here via Decatur, up
wards of ten trains each way. Mail train arrives 9 P. M.

Huntsville, Thursday, April 14. The camps were aroused
last night at midnight, ordered to dress and be ready to turn
out at a moment's warning. I got up, lit a candle, packed up
my knapsack and Evie's. Put everything ready and laid down
again. Did not wake till the breakfast call sounded. Found
the sun shining pleasantly and "nary" Forrest or Morgan near.
I know not the cause of alarm. Some of the boys say they
heard artillery firing. The other Batteries hitched up, but as '
we had no horses I think they intended we should run if they
came. We could do little fighting if they came not in our front.

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But as we are on the front such alarms are not strange. Ever
greens were hauled into camp by detail, and a row of shady
pine is planted in front of the tents, adding much to the beauty
and comfort of the camp. I have a big tree in front of my
"shebang". This does not look like moving, but still there is
no reliance upon appearances. Two of our men and Henry re
turned from pest hospital, recovered from smallpox.

Huntsville, Friday, April 15. The veterans of the 12th Wis
consin Battery left this morning, thirty in number, with their
beautiful flags, for the State. Ours would go with them if
Lieutenant Jenawein were here, but he is at Whitesburg and
will not be up till this evening. He will start with them in the
morning. I am on guard, pleasant through the day but dreary
during the night. My old chum Evie was up from the river
after rations. Staid all night. He is in charge of 3rd Platoon.
Orders received to reduce us to four-gun battery.

Huntsville, Saturday, April 16. At 7 A. M. our veterans,
thirty-two in number, started on their long anticipated fur
lough. They were almost beside themselves with pleasant an
ticipations, as they were greeted with a good-bye that came
from the hearts of the comrades they leave behind. I could
but think of the time when we should all be permitted to re
turn, with no compulsions to return. Oh, happy day ! May it
soon come! E. W. E. returned this morning. Left me again
alone in my tent. Much excitement prevails as to what will be
done with the superfluous men after being reduced to four guns.

Huntsville, Sunday, April 17. A beautiful and holy Sab
bath morning. Warmed even the coldest heart to softness and
filled the thoughtful mind with piety, though to many imper
ceptibly. Knapsack inspection at 8 A. M. Afterwards D. J. D.,
Griff and myself attended Sabbath school taught by a chaplain.
The presiding elder of the Methodist church was sick, and to
my astonishment the Yankee chaplain was invited to preach,

[198]

1864] YANKEE SERMON

which he did very fittingly, delivering an excellent sermon from
Romans 8th chapter, XV verse. Went down in the afternoon
to witness the baptizing at the Methodist church, but we were
too late. Visited the new font that is going up, and caught in
heavy rain storm before we got back.

Huntsville, Monday, April 18. Rained very heavy all night.
Dark heavy clouds hung over us this morning which slowly
dispersed as the day advanced. Windy in the evening and
chilly, uncommon in this country. 18th Wisconsin Infantry
broke camp at the public square and came up on our left. The
17th Iowa relieved them from provost duty. News reached us
of the horrible massacre of our troops at Fort Pillow, heart
sickening. How long will such things last? Preparations were
made to turn the fourth and first pieces over, but we have no
horses to draw them.

Huntsville, Tuesday, April 19. Nice day. Very small mail
this morning. Anxiously waiting for my weekly letter from
home. Three days behind. Health is very good except my
eyes bother me considerable. I am afraid they will grow worse
with the warm weather. Monthly inspection by Captains
- and - - at 10 A. M. Inspected at our posts, after
which our quarters were examined. Every man was required
to stand at attention by his bunk and salute them as they came.
'Tis hard to pay respects to unworthy beings, but we must if
they have shoulder straps.

Huntsville, Wednesday, April 20. Cogswell's Battery turned
their horses over to us late last evening, and this morning broke
camp, and go to Nashville by rail to-night for the field. I was
given a team once more, a good large span of bays. Two guns,
caisson, harness and all equipments pertaining to them were
turned over this afternoon. I drove my team down with them
leaving us but two guns in our park.

I was rendered half crazy all the forenoon by the greatest of

[199]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

plagues, the toothache in back tooth. Could not lie, or sit, or
talk, eat or drink with it. After dinner Dr. Griswold laid siege
to it. After taking a hitch on it and pulling with all his might,
showing me a beautiful panorama of stars, it came out and
bothered me no more. Heavy cannonading could be heard
from 2 to 4 P. M. in the direction of Decatur. •

Huntsville, Thursday, April 21. Awoke this morning with
eyes heavily sealed and jaw from which the tooth was taken
swollen to a mouthful. Felt very well otherwise. Pleasant
ride to the spring in the morning. Returned in time to fall in
for policing, a big job, very dusty and wind blowing. Did not
get through till noon. Artillery firing heard this afternoon, at
times very rapidly. Gunboat on Tennessee River it is said.
Skirmish in vicinity of Decatur continues.

Huntsville, Friday, April 22. Health very good. Papers
bring us very bad news from sea, which had quite at depress
ing effect upon my spirits. Every reverse retards that anx
iously longed for moment when "peace reigneth". The hottest
day of the season by several degrees, an impressive forerunner
of the fire that will soon be upon us. Signed receipt rolls,
would rather it were pay rolls. Sanitary gave us a meal of
kraut and onions. Blessed be the donors.

Huntsville, Saturday, April 23. Worked hard all the fore
noon hauling the refuse from picket rope, but not to enrich
the corn field as of old. Drew twenty-five good new horses di
rect from Nashville, nearly enough now. The weather was
most disagreeable. Warm and sultry wind all day, driving the
dust in blinding clouds, finding its way through the many
cracks of my bachelor's hall, settling in thick layers of clean
dust upon bed, desk and everything, the dust filling my eyes,
etc. Awful !

Huntsville, Sunday, April 24. Awoke to hear the rain pat
tering thick and fast on the pine boards overhead. At first

[200]

1864] SOUTHERN SERMON

I was dissatisfied with the anticipation of a wet day with mud
—very blue, but at the thought of yesterday's dusty ordeal I
could but say, "blessed be the rain that clears the atmosphere
and makes all nature look more pleasing when it ceases."
Cleared off into a most delightful day by 9 A. M., and I lis
tened to a; thorough scientific sermon from Dr. Eoss upon tech
nical points, existence of evil. His arguments were very con
cise and binding. Although differing in opinion I received
many new ideas. He is one of the leading Southern clergy and
formerly a rabid secessionist, and to-day he touched upon the
war, but so nicely that it could not displease any of his audi
ence which was composed of the two extremes, viz: Yankee
soldiers and secesh women. He sat way up, he said, upon his
faith in God, "looking down upon the struggle with as much
composure as though they were but the convulsions of so many
pigmies — God would do it right". Just found it out I suppose.
Two regiments of Osterhaus's Division marched by toward De-
catur this morning with no wagons or ambulances. Go to the
front.

Huntsville, Monday, April 25. A pleasant growing day.
HeaUh very good and "nary" bit discouraged. One year ago
to-day we started on the ever memorable campaign from Mil-
likens Bend which resulted in the glorious surrender of Vicks-
burg. Would to God that we could accomplish another this
spring. Willingly would I face the hardships, exposures and
dangers to accomplish it. But I try to school myself to pa
tience. I know that the same hero is now at the helm, and we
are waiting with breathless suspense to hear his movements, and
in conjunction with it we are also under marching orders. All
the preliminaries are issued, baggage to be cut down to two
teams, everything to be in light trim for the field. Any mo
ment we may pack up, preparatory to which we spent most of
the forenoon in harnessing the teams and putting things to
gether, etc. All is new and mixed up.

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Friend E. W. E. up from the Tennessee River after rations.
Obtained permission of Lieutenant (Jlark to return with him
in the morning and relieve D. Hayes. M. Hungerford takes
my team. Heavy details of infantry are continually kept at
work at the fortification of Huntsville. It will soon be that it
can be held by a few men.

Fort Hall, Whitesburg, Ala., Tuesday, April 26. Busied my
self this morning to prepare, and after breakfast we started on
horseback. The day was delightful, and our road lay through
one of the most enchanting valleys I ever travelled through,
skirted on each side by a low ridge of the Cumberland Moun
tains which, dressed in the richest verdure of spring, with the
evergreens here and there raising their dark heads among the
new green leaves in beautiful contrast. The valley was about
five miles wide, all of which had been under long cultivation.
Stumps all out, large fields were plowed in the rude Southern
style, and large droves of negroes and mules at work planting
cotton, a pleasing insight to the domestic life of the South ; but
the driver's lash and hound were not there. The same large
landed estates were apparent here as elsewhere, houses infre
quent. I could but picture in my mind's eye the industrious
farmer of the North in his neat white house and 160 acres of
land scattered over it with school-houses on every corner. Lib
eral institutions and improved cultivation would make this am
earthly paradise.

Reached Whitesburg by 12 M. after one of the pleasantest
rides I ever enjoyed. Found the boys all well and in good
spirits, very neatly quartered in Fort Hall with one company
of infantry with them.

After supper Evie and I went fishing in Tennessee River,
dropped our lines and watched the rebels on the opposite side
of the river on picket. Breastworks are to be seen but appar
ently vacant.

[2021

1864] A RUINED TOWN

Fort Hall, Wednesday, April 27. Very heavy rain last
night. Bright morning. The 56th Illinois stationed here.
Were inspected by Colonel Raum, commanding 2nd Brigade.
Examined our quarters and fortifications, after which he and
the other officers turned in and had a game of wicket ball.
Spent most of the day in looking at the used-to-be town, etc.
It consists now of four or five churches and as many houses
and chimneys; was once a thriving steamboat landing. River
here is narrow, running through noiseless on either side. Pour
families live in one out-house, with about forty wee children,
half naked and half starved, all the men in the Confederate
army, being the most pitiful objects. Saw one woman 108 years
old amongst them, an appalling sight. Two or three other
families staying here, seem to be very friendly to soldiers, es
pecially the young ladies.

Bathed in the waters of the Tennessee in the evening, 6 P. M.
The anticipated but welcome orders came for us to report to
Huntsville in the morning.

8 P. M. when all was still, a sentinel fired his piece on out-
poet. The reserve fired the alarm and instanter the long roll
rattled the well known story of "fall in" which was promptly
obeyed. We were out and at our posts. Moved our pieces so
as to bear in the proper direction, when the infantry came in
on double quick and filed into the pits and defenses. Not a
word was spoken, and in less than ten minutes we were all
snugly inside waiting for them. Lay still thirty minutes when
we were dismissed, and all were as heedless and unconscious of
danger as before the alarm. Probably a mule, too obstinate to
"halt" was the whole cause. Such are the incidents of an out
post which the soldier soon gets used to and conforms with
them with as much complacency as though they were to eat.

Huntsville, Thursday, April- 28. Quietly we prepared and at
7 A. M. we pulled out, much to the regret of the 56th Illinois.
Artillery always has a great encouragement to infantry. With

[203]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1664

its presence they feel safe and strong in any emergency. The
boys who had been here since the first, and had worked hard to
fortify and build, of course at first felt a little dissatisfied to
leave, but they were too good soldiers to allow any such feel
ings to cloud upon their brows; but cheerfully submit "to
the powers that be".

A warm and quick march of twelve miles, brought us to
Huntsville by 11 A. M. Found the old camp on Russell Hill
much agitated from the numerous and conflicting orders to
march received yesterday, one of which was to march at day
light this morning. All the baggage reduced as much as pos
sible, only two wagons allowed to a battery. Nearly everybody
is busy at work packing up boxes to be sent home, all contain
ing superfluous clothing. E. W. E., T. J. H., Gr. T. and myself
packed one of a similar nature. I sent my old friendly over
coat that has comforted me for nearly twenty months, and a
pair of rebel spurs bought at Vicksburg from a prisoner, and
worn all through last fall campaign, now worn out. Eyes very
sore to-night after marching, inflamed and red; bathed them
tenderly.

Huntsville, Friday, April 29. Hot and sultry day. Health
very good with exceptions. Took the box to the express office
in the morning; had to obtain a permit from Provost Marshal.
The express office was crowded so that I had to wait nearly
two hours. Boxes, barrels and bundles — no end to them! The
four-gun organization was completed. Men distributed and Ser
geant Dixon has charge of second piece, hence I have 3rd Pla
toon. Drilled Battery two hours in the afternoon on grass plat
near depot, pleasant if it was not so warm. Everybody is
ready for the speediest word, no more ever inquiring where we
are to go, accepting the result as immaterial.

Huntsville, Saturday, April 30. Probabilities of a march
greatly lessened. To-day 3rd Division assigned to guard tke

[204]

1864] REAL YANKEES

line of communication from Stevenson to Decatur, nearly eighty
miles of road. The duty will be very heavy for infantry and
active for all, if the enemy assume the offensive. 3rd Brigade
under General Matthies left this morning on the railroad to De
catur where they will relieve General Dodge's troops. Rainy
forenoon. Went after rations to town. Sanitary gave us a
mess of vegetables, etc.

Huntsville, Sunday, May 1. On guard as supernumerary,
and instead of attending Sabbath school at 9 A. M. as I would
wish, I underwent the ceremony of brigade guard mounting,
inspection of arms, drums and fifes, etc. for nearly an hour. A
very beautiful day. Two brigades of Dodge's command came
in this afternoon, one from Athens, the other from Pulaski.
They go to join in the forward movement. Gen. John A. Lo
gan left to-day with staff and escort for the front, a gay and
dashing cavalcade. May the rebels tremble when they hear his
approach.

Huntsville, Monday, May 2. A cold, windy day for this time
of the year. At night a fire was very comfortable. Expect to
move camp nearer to town soon so as to shorten the picket line.
The left wing of the 16th Corps under Dodge was moving in all
day. Stood on the roadside most of the afternoon, the first
time we were ever permitted to see a moving column without
ourselves forming a part of it. 25th Wisconsin passed. Many
of our boys found acquaintances and friends. In the same
Brigade was a regiment of Yanks all the way from Jersey, reg
ular blue-blood Yankees. Made a< strange appearance in their
leggins and yellow tassels. Physically made a poor comparison
by the side of our sturdy Western boys.

Huntsville, Tuesday, May 3. Infantry broke up camp early
this morning and went into camp nearer to town. After dinner
we hitched up and packed up leaving our old camp under
guard, where we have spent nearly four months. Came into

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AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY !1864

battery near the depot on the race course, a large open green,
very pretty for summer quarters, but rather low for wet
weather. 48th and 59th Indiana camped on our right, 12th Bat
tery on left. Teams hauling down lumber, etc. for quarters.

Huntsville, Wednesday, May 4. All hands worked nimbly
and willingly to-day to make themselves comfortable. Tents
raised one foot from ground with ample means for ventilation.
Fixed ours up in the forenoon. Made four single bunks occu
pied by Sergeant Dixon, Corporals Beaver and Evans, and my
self. Detailed to help move the hospital in the afternoon.
Contains five patients, two convalescing, one a recruit very low.
At night I sought my cot quite tired, the weather being exceed
ingly warm.

Huntsville, Thursday, May 5. On guard, second relief. Our
camp is very nicely located. A pretty brook runs in front of
the Battery which the boys have dammed up to make deep
enough for a pleasant bath. Water to cook and drink is hauled
from the "big spring". The almost ceaseless rattle of trains
keeps us wide awake as yet. Upwards of forty trains passed
to-day, the whistle disturbing our slumbers at every hour of
the night. 4th Minnesota Veteran Volunteers returned from
home. Health very good.

Huntsville, Friday, May 6. A warm and active day for all.
Guard house put up. Harness racks, a shade over the horses
of brush and evergreens, oven, cook house, and mess tables to
be built, bringing all on duty. Was put on duty with but four
hours of rest from guard. Have been on detail for five days in
rotation, but it is not hard work that we have to do, and many
hands make light work. 4th Minnesota returned from home on
evening train, relieves 17th Iowa. Too busy to be lonesome.

Huntsville, Saturday, May 7. A warm day but not oppres
sive. Sent on detail with Corporal Knapp outside picket lines

[206]

1864] NEGRO RELIGION

after poles and brush to protect horses from the sun. Passed
the infantry picket and cavalry videttes three miles from camp.
While out on the hills, in the thicket, a party of guerrillas fired
into our cavalry, wounding a captain about half a mile from
here. Two were taken in citizen's clothes. The prevailing idea
is that they will be shot. I cannot hope so, although it would
be but just retribution for the massacre of Fort Pillow.

Huntsville, Sunday, May 8. On guard detail again. Would
rather it was on some other day, as I wished to attend meeting.
Was orderly of the day, easier than on post. Had to stay
round headquarters during the day. Grazed horses in the af
ternoon near a negro meeting, which I attended. After an
earnest discourse from an old gray-haired negro, and a prayer
which would compare favorably with many a white man 's, sev
eral of the sisters "got happy", which was truly amusing, and
I could but laugh, although I should not have. Their exer
cise was composed mostly of chanting scraps of every hymn
they ever heard, in a gay, dancing tune style, with all jerks and
hops for variations. Poor ignorant souls. They greedily
grasp at the most mysterious dogmas, as their judgment and
reasoning faculties have never been developed or cultivated.

Huntsville, Monday, May 9. Went early in quest of mail
but did not get any. Relieved at 8 A. M. Off duty till 12 M.
when the assembly sounded and a detail of forty-two men, two
corporals and one sergeant under Lieutenant Hood were sent
to Captain McBride's to work on the fort. Heavy details were
there from all the batteries, cavalry and infantry. There is
much work yet to be done on it. The hill being so rocky, very
tedious work. Worked half the time, the 12th Battery reliev
ing us every thirty minutes. Forrest reported moving on this
place, hence the haste to complete the works.

Huntsville, Tuesday, May 10. 6 A. M. detail of fifty men
to report at the fort, taking all the men in camp except the

[207]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

guards, leaving the non-commissioned officers to groom the
horses. Marched up through a heavy rain which continued all
day. Laid idle till 10 A. M. for want of tools. All the negroes
in town pressed in and put to work. Twenty of us detailed
with Corporal Ferris to load a train with 3 by 8 stuff for gun
platforms, to obtain which we had to tear down an old machine
shop. Returned and unloaded by noon.

All the details marched up in line to McBride 's headquarters,
where whiskey rations were freely issued to all that wanted,
many of the most greedy drinking in several different details.
After this issue the Captain mounted a table and read a dis
patch from Sherman by telegraph, of glorious news from Grant.
Whips Lee and in full pursuit. Butler in Petersburg within
ten miles of Richmond. The news and whiskey brought forth
thundering acclamations from the soldiers. After stating the
importance of the immediate completion of the works, we were
dismissed for dinner and started home. Deplorable sight. The
intemperate indulgence by those but little used to the poison,
caused a large portion of them to be beastly drunk, and our
march through town was filled with demoniac yells, tumbling
in the mud and mire. I felt ashamed to be seen in the crowd.
Such mistaken kindness tends to demoralize the army as well as
to increase the hatred of our enemy. Many of the boys had to
be carried to their tents, and were unable to return to their
work in the afternoon. Rained heavy all the afternoon. Worked
hard. At night a terrible thunder storm deluged our camp,
water standing in one of the tents eighteen inches deep. Our
floor was all afloat, and we had to climb into our bunks to keep
dry. Dry land could not be seen. Much noise and fun in order
to forget the disagreeable in the humorous.

Huntsville, Wednesday, May 11. Exceedingly cold morning,
more like March than May. Started early to the fort, worked
hard in the forenoon loading wagons with dirt to be hauled on
to the wall. After dinner helped lay foundation for heavy

[208]

1864] ALL AT WORK

guns. Much, anxiety prevails in regard to Grant. In the East
it is confidently hoped by some that he will capture Richmond.
but I dare not hope, it is too big a job to be accomplished so
soon. Sherman is at work, but no news. Forrest does not seem
to come.

Huntsville, Thursday, May 12. All army followers, sutlers,
correspondents, etc. were ordered out this morning to work on
fortifications by Colonel Alexander, a tough pull for them, but
justifiable and highly acceptable to the soldiers. They left their
homes to avoid conscription and rob the soldier of his hard-
earned money. Let them dig alongside the but slightly darker
complected baker and hotel waiter. I was on guard, which this
time, is a day of rest, very acceptable. I was quite tired, al
most sick. An exciting report arrived that Butler was in Rich
mond, received 11 A. M. But little credence placed on it,
though.

Huntsville, Friday, May 13. A cold, chilly night. On
guard. The hours passed tedious to me, as I felt quite unwell.
Did not go to work on the fort to-day. In the afternoon, ditched
around the stable. 14th Illinois Regiment, the advance of the
17th Corps, arrived this morning from Athens. Report the
whole Corps falling under General Blair. General Crocker in
town. Three trains of wounded passed North last night and
this morning. Good news from Sherman. McPherson in their
rear. Reports dubious from Grant. Forrest accidentally ran
against the 17th Corps on his way here, and lost all his artil
lery. Guess he won't bother us any more.

Huntsville, Saturday, May 14. Worked hard on fort all day,
it fast approaching completion. Rifle pits are being dug com
pletely around it, enfilading all the principal streets of the town.
All the contrabands out. One volunteer citizen has been at work
three days, honorable exception. Another sprig of chivalry
working with the negroes under guard for saying that no ' ' d — n

14 f 209 1

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [181U

Yankee could make him work". Yankee bayonet did it though.
Keports of struggle fierce and wild still reach us from Grant.
Highly successful but the slaugter is terrible. One year ago
to-day we entered the haughty capital of Mississippi after
deadly fight.

Huntsville, Sunday, May 15. Quiet, tranquil Sabbath day.
For once I was not on guard Sunday, so I attended Sabbath
school at 9 A. M. A very interesting class, with the soldiers
taught by an intelligent Northern man connected with the quar
termaster 's department. Waited till sermon, 10:30 A. M. Lis
tened to a miserable, inconsistent discourse from an itinerant
Methodist preacher, a violent rebel apparently at that. In the
evening took a stroll through the town to admire the beautiful
blooming grounds and yards. Visited the Calhoun yard, where
the pest house is now kept. Saw specimens of that vegetable
curiosity called the " century plant", about four feet high, with
large fluffy leaves like petals, with little sign of life.

Huntsville, Monday, May 16. On guard, first relief. All
very quiet. No detail sent to the fort to-day. Nearly done ex
cept inside blasting rocks, etc. A band of twenty men ar
rived from Brodhead, Wisconsin, last evening to be assigned to
1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps. Early in the even
ing they opened in front of 12th Battery headquarters, formed
in a circle,( and in the gentle twilight played numerous airs,
patriotic and melancholy ; the sweetest of all, ' ' Home Sweet
Home". The green was covered with soldiers, lying at full
length, dreamily enjoying the sweet music, forgetful of all the
past, in 'blissful forgetfulness of all things real. The instru
ments were of German silver, making a very good appearance.
May they serve us with such a treat often.

Madison Station, Ala., Tuesday, May 17. 9 A. M. the long
train of empty cars on their way to Nashville. Packed up in
great haste with the report that Madison Station was in the

[210]

1864] EXPECTING FORREST

hands of the rebels, ten miles distant from here. The long rolls
were immediately sounded in infantry camp. Orderlies has
tened with orders. First Section in moving order in ten min
utes. Soon both Batteries hitched up. 12th Battery went up
to the fort. We waited for orders. Impression prevailed that
it was the onset of Forrest for Huntsville. 11 A. M. the 59th
Indiana went out on the open cars towards the Station in high
spirits and deafening cheers. 18th Wisconsin called from
Whitesburg and two companies of 10th Missouri from Flint
River.

4 P. M. our Battery ordered aboard train, three days' ra
tions, one blanket. Raining very heavy ever since noon. Guns
were put in flat cars, horses in freight cars, and at 5 P. M. we
started under Colonel Alexander. As the train left the depot,
loud cheers arose from the soldier boys. Returned by the wav
ing of handkerchiefs from windows. At dusk we halted at the
smouldering ruins of Madison Depot, burned down and occu
pied by stragglers of the 13th Illinois. The 59th and four com
panies of 13th followed the raiders towards the river. Rain
fell in torrents while we hurriedly unloaded. Got in moving
condition at 9 P. M. and started. Very dark, I was left with
forage that was to go back to Huntsville on train. Expecting
to return to camp soon, I allowed E. W. E. to take my blan
ket, but after they left, 10 P. M., was told the train would not
return till morning. Closed the car and lay on the wet sacks
with only & rubber over me. On guard night before. Quite
sleepy.

Madison Station, Wednesday, May 18. Awoke before day
light, numb with cold. Sought the fire around the ruins. I
found the 59th Indiana lying sleeping, having returned at 1
A. M. after travelling twenty-six miles since they started
through the rain, and no rations or rest. Skirmished with
them two miles, driving them on to the river, but as they had
no artillery they had to return. Alexander lost the road, con-

[2111

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

sequently did not meet them. Picked up my breakfast from
scraps of hard-tack scattered.

Train went on to Nashville and had to unload the forage.
The rebel forces that came in yesterday, under command of Pat
terson, crossed the river in the night and surprised the post,
having them almost surrounded before they were aware of
their presence. They estimated fifteen hundred mounted men,
four pieces of artillery. The Begiment precipitately made for
the woods to escape. Lost everything, clothing, etc. and knap
sacks. The affair was no credit to the officers and men of the
13th Illinois. Their time was out on the 24th inst, expecting
to go home daily. About thirty of them are now on their way
to Southern prisons.

10 A. M. Alexander returned with the troops, having been
on a wild goose chase. Marched all night nearly, to find the
bird safe. The raiders made good their escape across the Ten
nessee after having taken four mule teams and wagons, twenty
to forty prisoners, a lot of good clothes, "Yankee blue", sup
ply of blankets, and killing two or three, one sick man shot af
ter surrender, with a loss of sixty-four in our hands. Took his
killed and wounded with him. On the other side they fired a
salute of defiance.

12 M. Battery started by land for Huntsville. Infantry and
the artillery came on train. Arrived at Huntsville 5 P. M..
being gone twenty-four hours. Marched thirty-eight miles.
Tired and sleepy. All hands enjoyed a hearty supper and a
good night's rest.

Huntsville, Thursday, May 19. A day of quiet rest to all
that would. Sultry and cloudy. Health is good, but felt dulL
Eyes pain me considerable. Advance of the 17th Corps, 4th
Division, arrived and camped near our old camp on Russell Hill.
Corps is to rendezvous here, reorganizing before they take the
field. No train expected from Nashville for two days. A bridge
is to be repaired, an unwelcome occurrence in these exciting

[2121

1864] A CAMP POND

times when all are breathlessly waiting for news. Five com
panies, 59th Indiana, went to relieve the 13th Illinois to go
home. Expiration of term.

Huntsville, Friday, May 20. On guard, third relief. Gave
the day up willingly for its duties by lying low all the time not
on post, which was rather monotonous. No papers or mail.
Large party went out on pass this afternoon with Sergeant
Hauxhurst to visit friends in 14th, 17th, and 33rd Wisconsin
Regiments.

Huntsville, Saturday, May 21. Mail distributed, giving me
three fat letters which did me much good. Good news from
Sherman. Boys busy in the afternoon damming up the creek
in front of camp to make swimming pond. Had a refreshing
bath in the evening.

Huntsville, Sunday, May 22. Inspection 8 A. M. Attended
Sabbath school. Soldiers' class large and interesting. Before
returned to camp, listened to am eloquent and scientific dis
course by Dr. Ross, Presbyterian Church. Wrote letters in the
afternoon. Very warm. Traded sugar for milk. Made a fine
bread pudding for dinner, great rarity for soldiers. A train
of thirty cars loaded with "grey backs" captured by Sherman
passed North; very dirty and filthy-looking clothes.

Huntsville, Monday, May 23. Very warm, sultry day. Per
formed the pleasant task of signing pay roll, expect a month's
soon. Change getting low on all sides. Heavy columns of
troops arrived all day. Leggett's Division, 17th Army Corps
expect to reorganize ere leaving for the front. I anticipate that
we will soon be relieved to join our Corps in the front with gal
lant Sherman, who is doing much. Expects to be in Atlanta
by the first of June. Terrible uncertainty hangs over Grant.
A heavy mail arrived this evening. I received two good ones
from T. L. and E. L. 63rd Illinois returned from veteran fur
lough.

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AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

Huntsville, Tuesday, May 24. Our quiet camp is very busy
to-day by the bustle occasioned by the presence of the 17th Corps.
Wagons driving in hot haste, drums beating, bugles blowing,
etc. The boys as of old are doing steep jay-hawking, breaking
into gardens, cheating sutlers, etc. A long march has invariably
a demoralizing effect upon troops. Guards stationed on every
corner. Blair has ordered our Division to the front. Smith
telegraphed to Sherman for orders. Paid off 4 P. M., $52.00.
The rest of the day was spent very busily, settling debts and
crossing out old scores, trading, etc.

Huntsville, Wednesday, May 25. The 17th Corps took up the
line of march early this morning but did not get under way, all
of it till 11 A. M. They go back towards Decatur, supposed to
cross the river for Rome. As they marched out with bands
playing and colors flying, it was a grand sight, and to any man
an incentive to patriotism to watch the firm, measured step of
thousands of brave men, marching cheerfully to the hardest of
deaths, many miles away from home and its endearments. As
they inarch through this traitor land, do not their hearts beat
quick as they think of those behind. Would that they could but
behold the cheerful and willing countenances of those they love
this morning as they left Huntsville to seek the foes of this
country. Wisconsin, my beloved State, has many interests cen
tered in the 17th Corps, six regiments true and brave. Their
moving eased our minds as the probabilities of our moving there
by lessened.

The guards that were posted at every corner were relieved,
and the by this time quiet 3rd Division allowed to go at will and
come when they pleased. They carry themselves as honorable
men with but few exceptions. On guard, first relief, after re
turned. At 10 A. M. went up town. Sat for half a dozen pho
tographs.

Huntsville, Thursday, May 26. Felt quite unwell. Have a
very severe cold and bad headache. Expressed $40.00 home in

[214]

1864] ALLOTMENTS HOME

J. Lester's package. Battery drill of two hours this morning,
first since we reached this camp. Long list on extra duty this
afternoon for absence at roll call, etc. The looseness in which
things were allowed to run in camp for the last week will now be
overbalanced by unscrupulous severity. Good news from Grant
read anxiously 9 P. M. from the only paper received in camp.

Huntsville, Friday, May 27. Suffer a severe cold. Dull,
cloudy day. Lay in my bunk most of the day. Expressed
$40.00 of my money home per J. Lester to-day. Went to town
afternoon, received my photos.

Huntsville, Saturday, May 28. A hot day. On detail to go
outside pickets after wood. Reported in town 8 A. M. to go with
division train. Train did not go, waited to see brigade guard.
Loaded with forage and returned to camp. Drew two new
mule teams to draw battery wagon and forge. Glorious news
from Grant — within a day's march of Richmond.

Huntsville, Sunday, May 29. A calm, quiet, Sabbath day.
Company inspection 8 A. M. 9 A. M. had to go on post. Could
not go to church, but enjoyed myself well. Wrote home in the
afternoon. Camp very quiet, boys mostly gone out. My mus
ings were undisturbed. In the evening a bevy of staff officers
visited camp, but were so beastly drunk as to be unable to carry
themselves with propriety, racing their horses after negroes, etc.
Their conduct would be disgraceful to a private. One of the
staff officers of Sherman among them. Such are the examples
our superior officers set before us. Can we expect anything but
demoralization ?

Huntsville, Monday, May 30. A very warm day. Mail train
did not come in last night. The camp is anxious for news. 12th
Battery veterans arrived 11 A. M. in gay colors. Expect ours
daily. 13th Indiana Cavalry equipped as infantry, without
horses, arrived from Nashville, and gone to relieve our Division

[215]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

at Madison Station. More expected soon when we will go to the
front.

Huntsville, Tuesday, May 31. Went out on drill this morning
on the outskirts of town under Lieutenant Clark two hours.
When we- returned to camp we found our veterans direct from
home. The reunion was very cordial, and to see faces that had
been to Wisconsin, brought us nearer to the absent ones. The
remainder of the day was happily spent in asking and answer
ing questions, with incidents and anecdotes. Visited Christian
Commission rooms in the evening, borrowed Jessie Fremont's
Story of the Guard, and read it with interest. No news from the
contending foes.

Huntsville, Wednesday, June 1. No drill. General policing.
Veterans were assigned to platoons, giving about thirty-six men
to a platoon and three corporals. Very crowded. Seven men
in our tent and mess. On guard as supernumerary. Lieuten
ant Clark left on evening train for Louisville with his wife, she
going North in expectation of our moving.

Huntsville, Thursday, June 2. A warm sultry day. Did
not go out drilling. No mail, but big news from Sherman. Feel
dumpish.

Huntsville, Friday, June 3. Cloudy, rained most of the day.
Three regiments of the 2nd Brigade came in and went into camp
on their old grounds. The railroad is now guarded from Steven
son to Flint River by new troops, dismounted cavalry.

Huntsville, Saturday, June 4. Very wet, most of the day.
Damp, drizzly day. On detail in the forenoon, hauled water.
Hon. John Y. Smith, former state historian of Wisconsin, is
supplying us with records of the 6th Wisconsin Battery. Filled
out my certificate of membership. Sent it home.

[216]

1864] CAMP CONVERSIONS

Huntsville, Sunday, June 5. Company inspection at 8 A. M.
Lieutenant Hood and four of the boys as escort went to Whites-
burg on a visit. Did not feel well this morning, vomiting and
headache, rather dyspeptic, must be more careful as to diet.
Fine wheaten bread and meat improper diet, but it is all we can
have.

E. W. E. and myself took a most pleasant walk to the grave
yard. Walked among the dead of the time that knew peace and
tranquility, and others whose lives had been wrecked by the cruel
hand of war. The towering marble erected by loving hands
marked the resting place of one, while the rude pine slab denoted
where the other lay far away from his native home and kindred.
Did not attend service during the day, but attended the army
church with Cousin Griffith. Listened to an excellent and liberal
sermon from post chaplain, urging the importance of cultivating
religious principles, none other is genuine. Six soldiers were
baptized after service and the sacrament administered to a large
circle of soldiers. There were none others present. Reached camp
by 10 P. M. Found a long interesting letter from brother John
awaiting me.

Huntsville, Monday, June 6. Very warm day. Went out
drilling in the morning. Lieutenant Clark maneuvered us in
the streets, coming into battery on the square, crowding citizens,
and making ourselves generally ridiculous. 80th Ohio returned
to Scottsboro.

Huntsville, Tuesday, June 7. Showery again to-day. Camp
is still afloat with a loose report of moving in some indefinite
time to some indefinite place. To-day Louisiana and the lower
Mississippi is the theme. On guard, second relief. Health
better. A squad of eight men under Sergeant Dixon went as an
escort to a picnic party composed of "shoulder straps" and
Southern ladies, to Bird Spring, six miles distant. Returned
6 P. M. Had a good dinner, champagne in plenty and danc
ing. Enjoyed themselves well although they went as menials.

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AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Huntsville, Wednesday, June 8. Exceedingly heavy rain,
completely inundating our camp, which lies in a poor locality
for wet weather. Several of the boys attacked with ague, and
more will follow if this weather continues.

Huntsville, Thursday, June 9. Detailed to go after clotMog
this morning. Returned by 11 A. M. Clothing issued in af
ternoon. Still showery and cloudy. As seen by general order,
General Logan is assigned to the command of all the railroad
line from Nashville to Stevenson, which relieves Smith from his

line.

i

Huntsville, Friday, June 10. Abraham Lincoln nominated
for the presidency by the Baltimore convention, and Andy John
son for vice-president which gives satisfaction to the large
majority in the army. Hurrah for Old Abe.

Drilled under Lieutenant Hood. Condemned horses turned
over. Drew rations, "hard-tack" instead of flour. What does
it mean? "Grant Negro Minstrels" set up in town, many
boys visited.

Huntsville, Saturday, June 11. Health very good. Eyes
troublesome. Times dull. Weather wet and muddy. News
of several desperate engagements reach us but none decisive,
except Hunter in the Shenandoah Valley. A regiment of 100-
day men passed this morning to Decatur, Alabama. Had a rich
dish of raspberries for dinner, earliest of the season.

Huntsville, Sunday, June 12. Inspection of transportation
at 6 A. M. by Division quartermaster. Mounted artillery in
spection by Captain Dillon 9 A. M. I was not required to fill
detachment, therefore attended church. Listened to Dr. Ross,
a peculiar discourse on "What is Man". A train containing
three hundred prisoners passed North this afternoon under
guard of 15th Indiana. Orderly arrived from Logan, reports
him wounded twice, but still commanding, the bravest of the

[218]

1864=] SOLDIER BRIDES

brave, in the very front, sleeves rolled up as usual. Attended
evening service at post chapel with Cousin Griff. Good ser
mon, but did want a good letter waiting my return as last Sun
day.

Huntsville, Monday, June 13. Cloudy! Rainy! Muddy! Are
we never more to have sunshine? I would wish that some of
this would fall on the parched cornfields of Wisconsin. But
still it is very nice here, keeps the air cool and is God-sent to
our poor wounded in the front. Received a keg of butter from
our homes, i. e., Griff, Evie, D. J. D., Bailey and myself. But
ter very acceptable and quite an addition to our unwholesome
fare. On guard, first relief. Stringent orders in regard to
skulking, etc. read to us this evening from Sherman. Took a
long and pleasant walk with G. M. S. in the morning.

Huntsville, Tuesday, June 14. A sunny day without rain
at last. Signed receipt rolls for clothing. All the wounded
and sick sent North from the hospitals here. The long-ex
pected order was at last issued this afternoon. "Hold our
selves in readiness to march at any time." After four days'
waiting I [received] my letter.

Huntsville, Wednesday, June 15. Weather fine. Health
very good. Weight 138. Mounted monthly inspection by Cap
tains Budlong and Dillon at 10 A. M. • Green peas for dinner
Myself sick. Division concentrating at this place. 63rd Illi
nois arrived at 4 P. M. Two soldiers, 2nd Brigade, married to
girls they found at Scottsboro.

Huntsville, Thursday, June 16. Pleasant day. All quiet.
10th Minnesota arrived by rail 9 A. M. 3rd Brigade marched
in from Decatur 3 P. M. Roddey made a dash upon the place
before they were barely out of sight, driving the 100-day men
inside their works, and the Brigade of Dodge's Corps had to
go back and drive them off. General hospital is being moved,

[2191

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY :i864

patients sent North and the stores and goods farther south.
Visited the pest hospital in the evening, where two of our boys
are lying. Had quite a homelike appearance compared with
that I laid in at Corinth, more clean, having soft beds and
good treatment.

Huntsville, Friday, June 17. All well and quiet. Very hot.
Spent most of the day reading Pollok's Course of Time. Re
ceived Covenant and Enquirer in the evening. Took a long
walk in the soft twilight all alone, enjoyed myself very much.
Drew new horses, eight of them.

Huntsville, Saturday, June 18. On guard, easy but disagree
able. 18th Wisconsin arrived from Whitesburg 10 A. M. The
old and tried Division is once more together. The infantry
pickets were relieved in evening. The time is at hand when
they will have to leave.

Huntsville, Sunday, June 19. Relieved from guard 9 A. M.
Staid in camp all day reading papers received by mail. Four
hundred rebel prisoners passed through on their way North.
One train staid at the depot most of the afternoon. They were
the same men that we dug out of Vicksburg last summer.
Plucky as ever. They will not repent until utter ruin over
takes them. Citizens and soldiers flocked around to see the
sights. Some ladies tremblingly inquired for friends and re
lations, others pressing forward anxious to bestow a smile upon
those whom they sympathized with.

Huntsville, Monday, June 20. Quite warm. Health rery
good in camp. Seven patients in hospital, recruits, one danger
ous. Johnson, raving with fever all night. Drilled from 7 to
9 A. M. Eode out to graze in a fruitful orchard. Marching
orders once more received, "Move Wednesday morning".

Huntsville, Tuesday, June 21. Rained all day. Everybody
is quiet but busy, preparing for the morrow, packing knap-

[220]

1864] FAST MARCHING

sacks, writing letters, etc. Upwards of one hundred fifty let
ters left the Battery to-day. Enoch Johnson died at 10 A. M.
This young man leaves a wife and child to mourn his loss, whom
but a fewr months ago he left in the prime of life to do service
for his country. Alas! they will see his manly form no more
in this world. His disease was congestive chills and typhoid
fever. Was one of the detachment that late in the evening fol
lowed the corpse to the grave. Silently, without a word of
prayer, we buried him in a rude coffin, and without a thought
hardly, hastened back to camp to prepare for the morrow. It
is now dark and I go to an early rest in my homelike bunk for
the last time.

On to Atlanta

Brownsboro, Wednesday, June 22. Reveille sounded at
2 :30 A. M. and quietly we broke camp and marched at 5 A. M.
with but one regiment ahead of us in the column. Marched
through town in fine style, and soon beautiful and dreamy
Huntsville was placed among the past. Roads heavy, weather
warm. Marched slow, and reached Brownsboro by 12 M. Went
into camp and rested the remainder of the day. Boys full of
life and hilarity. The dread of starting (and of parting with
some) is over and sutlers tremble. Bathed in the clear waters
of the Flint in the evening.

Camp on Paint Rock River, Thursday, June 23. Aroused
at 3 A. M. but as we were in the rear of the column, did not
move out till 6 A. M. Marched fast, but obliged to halt fre
quently to let the 2nd Brigade train get out of the way. Our
road lay along the railroad, the same that we travelled last
winter, but nature's changes were so great that we could hardly
recognize the dismal beech swamp, once a dread to cross. But
now the deep foliage afforded a welcome protection from the

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burning rays of the sun. Camped on Paint Rock 4 P. M.
Found our advance having their supper. There was hardly
any straggling. Walked all through and feel first rate. Bathed
in the evening. Retired early. Disappointed in not receiving
mail.

Scottsboro, Ala., Friday, June 24. Started out in advance
with the 3rd Brigade at 4 A. M. after hasty preparation and
half-swallowed breakfast. The Brigade men in the advance for
the first time, and they pulled out in good earnest to show what
they could do. The sun came out in all its fierceness, but om
we plodded over rocky hills and through shady glens, greedily
snatching cooling draughts as it gushed out from the rocks in
plenty. Reached Larkinsville by 11 A. M., a distance of fifteem
miles, with but three short rests, very fast, getting my toes all
blistered. Halted an hour here for dinner. I bathed my feet
in cold spring water and felt better. Started again for Scotts
boro which we reached by 3 P. M. Part of the road being very
bad, waited for the pioneers to repair it. No straggling al
lowed at all. All stand it well. I am very tired. Marching
isn't fun this hot! hotter! hottest! weather. Twenty miles, big
day.

Camp on the road, Saturday, June 25. The bugle notes
aroused us at 2 A. M. Reluctantly we arose from our sweet
slumbers to answer to our names, the failure of which would
put us on guard the next night. 2nd Brigade failed to come
up with the rear last night, consequently we were in the ad
vance, and while the stars were yet bright we started. The
sun came out, if anything, hotter than yesterday. In the Twid
dle of the day halted frequently to rest. Passed through Belle-
fonte. Many of the infantry gave out. Came into camp oa
the bank of a creek three miles from Stevenson at 1 P. M.

I am very tired, but feel not as sore as last night. The re
mainder of the day was spent in resting at full length under

[222]

1864] STRAGGLING

the trees, all extra appendages removed, cooking and eating
supper, and bathing weary limbs, etc. I was put on guard at

7 P. M. R remained back at Huntsville when we left and

did not come up till this morning. Was tied to the gun and
marched behind it all day. Is to be tied up for nine days, for
three days' straggling.

Camp on Mud Creek, Ala., Sunday, June 26. Our weary
limbs were allowed to rest undisturbed this morning till day
light. Found it hard work to stand guard last night. Did not
march as expected. "Washed my shirt and socks in the stream,
going without any while they dried. The day was well used
by us all in writing letters and resting, but to our disappoint
ment no mail came and no papers seen. 2nd Brigade came up
before dinner. Expect to take the cars at 2 P, M. Platoon
messes organized. Four of our boys came in from Stevenson,
having marched ahead yesterday. They will be tied up as strag
glers.

Camp on Mud Creek, Monday, June 27. Lay in our bivouac
all day awaiting transportation by rail to take us to the front.
3rd Brigade and 12th Battery started at noon. Weather very
oppressive. B. F. Runyan was sunstruck this afternoon.
Raved all last night in greatest agony. Will be sent North to
morrow if he survives. Five of our boys and negro Anthony
tied to the wheels all day to-day for straggling. "The way of
the transgressor is hard". Wrote a letter to folks, waiting
with all anxiety for our evening mail, but it did not come.

Camp on Mud Creek, Tuesday, June 28. The threatening
thunderstorm of last night unfortunately passed away without
cooling us and settling the dust. Our spirits were revived this
morning by securing last night's mail. I received one from
Hannah with her familiar countenance, a precious gift. Our
back mail has gone to Big Shanty. Day passed off heavily. No
reading matter and all shady places were monopolized by card

[2231

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

players, etc. I amused myself with checkers most of the day.
No late papers in camp. 2nd Brigade gone on cars. Leave
wagons behind.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, June 29. Nothing important trans
pired during the forenoon. Late papers brought into camp. A
great treat. After dinner "Boots and Saddles" was sounded
and in thirty minutes we moved out towards Stevenson. One
of the caisson drivers sick. I had to take his team. Proceeded
to load upon the cars as soon as possible. The track was
crowded and it was difficult to load the horses, which were un
harnessed. At about 5 P. M. the train started, amid the cheer
ing of the troops and music by the 1st Brigade band from the
piazza of the Soldiers' Home. Leave all the wagons to come
through by land. At Bridgeport three long trains from the
front passed us, and it was dark before we crossed the Tennes
see River bridge. I rode on top [of the] freight, and in spite
of myself slept most of the time, while we dashed on through
the darkness, over precipices, around curves, etc. in danger of
being rolled off. To prevent which locked arms with the com
rade on the other side. Was awake while we passed under the
majestic wall of Lookout, the Tennessee beneath us, a yery
beautiful scene. Arrived at Chattanooga at 11 P. M. Slept
on cars till morning.

Kingston, Ga., Thursday, June 30. Arose to find ourselves
enveloped by cars and engines. Chattanooga is thriving under
the military. Buildings are going up, roads repaired, etc. and
an immense amount of stores are kept at this place. After
breakfast and morning papers read, we were mustered for pay.
Inspected at 8 A. M. Two [extra] engines attached, and with
difficulty we reached the tunnel. Passed through it when extra
engines left us, and we rode on some time, very fast, but oftem
obliged to halt, trains blockading us in front.

Road very lightly guarded. Engineers' camps frequently seen

[224]

1864] THE FRIENDLY POOR

in the dense forest, busy at work getting out timber for bridges,
etc. Steam mills running, etc. Country very thinly settled
and poor land covered with pine shrubs. Tunnel Hill, a small
town totally deserted in a mountain gorge, could be seen, John
ston's winter quarters. Passed through a tunnel three-quar
ters of a mile long here, nearly suffocating us with fire and
smoke. Dalton, next important place, found deserted and
crumbling to ruins. Looks old, no new buildings. Disap
pointed at its appearance. Resaca on Oostanaula River, the
strongest fortified position on the line, all cut up in rifle pits
and forts, and large enclosure of graves tells of the fearful
struggle it required to take it. The railroad bridge was a curi
osity, made of round timber without bolt and rod, all wood.
( Vuhcun we reached 4 P. M., the prettiest place on the line,
neat houses, pretty yards and inhabited. At the tank we were
met by battalion of secesh ladies with blackberries, huckle-ber-
ries, pies, milk, etc. to sell. Adairsville next station. A few
houses. Women cheered us and boys returned a hearty re
sponse. Wheat and oats growing all along the road mostly
harvested, but poor crop. Have seen more small grain to-day
than I have since I left Wisconsin. Mostly poor people live
here. Reached Kingston by dark. Went to the depot 11 P. M.,
and had to unload the horses and water them.

Kingston, Friday, July 1. Unloaded leisurely in forenoon.
Went out a mile to graze horses. Headquarters arrived 2 P. M.
and ordered us into camp. Harnessed up. Camped on the
bank of Etowah River, a ridiculously small creek to be called
a river. Received a portion of our back mail. I only received
one. This was once a pretty station but now deserted. Strongly
fortified position. Garrisoned by 3rd Cavalry Division. Ex
pect to be relieved by our Division. Did not get around to
write home to-day. Bathed in river at night. Caught in a
terrible rain. Soaked to the skin.

15 [ 225 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Kingston, Saturday, July 2. Rained very heavy all night
and nearly all day. Dried my clothes and my knapsack, and
commenced writing a letter. Finished by night. Three regi
ments, 2nd Brigade, left last night, back to Calhoun and Macon
to guard railroad. Two regiments of 3rd Brigade, left this
afternoon, to be stationed on the Rome railroad, eighteen miles
long. This infantry is going to guard road. Rumor says ar
tillery goes to this point. A long train of wounded from the
front, among whom was A. Silsby shot in arm and hip severely.
Is full of pluck. Was with him a long time. No letters by
mail for the Battery. How provoking !

Kingston, Sunday, July 3. Moved position this morning a
few rods. Unharnessed and went to work to build quarters,
when we again hitched up and moved on to a hill one-fourth
mile from town, overlooking it, and strongly fortified. This
new camp was vacated this morning by the 10th Wisconsin Bat
tery belonging to Cavalry Division. 48th Indiana Infantry sta
tioned right behind for support. All hands busy erecting, shel
ters from the hot sun. Spencer and D. Evans joined with E.
W. E. and myself and built a cozy little 4i shebang". Went out
grazing three miles this afternoon, into a splendid clover field,
Blackberries in all abundance. D. Evans and I picked three
quarts, a rich supper.

Kingston, Monday, July 4. 'Tis Independence Day but there
is nothing unusual to remind us of it. Yet it is not forgotten.
We remember with enthusiasm how gloriously it was spent one
year ago in beholding our country's enemy succumb to our
Chieftain Grant, and we know the time will come when all
traitors will meet a like fate. The train from the front tells us
that Sherman's headquarters are on the summit of Kenesaw
Mountain. If true, good news enough. Hurrah for Sherman
and our Union!

Went out grazing both forenoon and afternoon alone, three
hours each time; while out picked blackberries. Brought in as

[ 226 ]

HOME SWEET HOME

many as mess could eat, very rich and nice. Camp policed by
cannoneers, which makes it look very much better. It is a
pleasant spot, high and airy, broad view before us.

It is dusk, everything is dreary and still, I write alone. Be
low is Kingston, wholly deserted, no sign of life except a few
wandering soldiers. The band at Brigade headquarters has
been playing "America" and is now giving "Home Sweet
Home" in touching strains that go to the hearts of all the
rough and quiet listeners. How did they spend to-day at home ?
Would that I could but have one glance. I feel that their up
permost thought is "Where is Jenkin to-night." He too is
thinking of you. It is well with him, but longs to hear from
home. It is three weeks since the last mail reached him. The
day is spent as all others are spent. He has nothing to read or
amuse himself with here, and he will go to bed early to enjoy
sweet slumbers and pleasant dreams.

Kingston, Tuesday, July 5. A hot day. Evie took out my
team to graze this morning. While gone three large armsful of
mail was distributed to the Batteries and greedily seized by the
mail-hungry Badgers. I received three good letters from home.
After dinner took out horses and brought in fresh supply of
berries. Found another big batch of mail for us. Two were
for me. Our back mail is all up now and all are satisfied.
What a manifest difference is to be seen to-night compared with
last night. All is life and hilarity, songs sung, jokes cracked
till late in the night.

Kingston, Wednesday, July 6. Up early, groomed my team
before roll call Drew forage for them this morning, first time
for two days. „ 8 A. M. went to graze in an oat field. Heavy
crop all headed. It seems almost wicked to allow animals to
destroy it, but it was sowed for Confederate purposes and the
owner is with the fleeing "Johnnies". Every shady nook,
stump and stone occupied by somebody. Writing to-day, an-

[227]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

swering the heap received yesterday. The guns put in position
on the works. Harness racks erected, brush shade put over
caisson and racks. Everything indicates that we are to stay
for awhile.

Kingston, Thursday, July 7. The day was exceedingly warm.
Grazed only once to-day. Drew rations. No sugar to be had.
Just the time we need it with blackberries. Waiting all day
for train from North. Rebels took a train last night near Dai-
ton and mail. Afraid they got my letter. The citizen that led
the guerrillas in (for they are nothing else) was unceremon
iously hung by the citizens of the place. Camp is full of ru
mors. Atlanta is taken several times during each day. One
thing is certain, they are dogged. From Kenesaw Moun
tain train after train of prisoners go to the rear.

Kingston, Friday, July 8. "Went to graze in a different di
rection this morning, being warned by citizen that guerrillas
were prowling around to pick up our horses where we went
before. Disappointed when I returned in not finding any mail.
Day was very, very hot. Camp is in just the place for such
weather, cool air always. Took a walk to town in the evening
with D. Evans. Talked with prisoners.

Kingston, Saturday, July 9. Drew sugar last night, as could
be known by the large number anxious to ride out grazing so
as to get berries. E. W. E. went out with us. Picked two gal
lons. No mail or news.

Kingston, Sunday, July 10. Company inspection at 6 A. M.
Grazed 7 A. M. Met wagon train moving in, they had had
pleasant journey. Returned to camp by 10:30 A. M. with our
dishes full of the rich blackberries. They are our staple diet.
Hard-tack and "sow belly" dessert. No mail to-day again. No
news. Reading matter very limited, the effect of which is very
apparent. Three or four squads to be seen gambling at one time

[ 228 ]

1864] LETTERS FROM HOME

in camp, notwithstanding it is the Sabbath day. I have never
known more open gambling in the Battery. The only checking
influence is withdrawn when the letters cease to come from
home, parents, sisters and brothers.

Kingston, Monday, July 11. Evie took my team out to graze.
Spencer and I built, lower in park, shebang with table, etc.
Boys hard at work putting up houses, sheds. 4 P. M. on detail
hauling brush for feheds. Orders received to march 3 A. M. in
the morning. All work on quarters ceased in an instant, our
dreams of cool shade and easy time gone in a moment. Hur
riedly washed dirty shirt in the stream, and prepared for the
moving. Received a letter this evening. Health good. Ex
pect to go to the front.

Cartersville, Ga., Tuesday, July 12. Reveille sounded in the
small hours of the night, and with the first rays of the morn
we descended the hill and were on the way. After more delay
we started, seven regiments, two batteries and division train.
Most of the 2nd and 3rd Brigades left behind on the roads.
Marched steady and fast. Passed through Cassville at 10 A. M.,
a very pretty country town hid away among the hills. Four
mills on the road. A large college used as general hospital by
rebs here. Ascended to the observatory, had a splendid view.
A large library filled with books going to waste. As we-
marched, country improved. Land more arable, much less
stony. Passed most excellent corn fields, although they received
no care or protection. Marched through Cartersville 3 P. M.,.
a place of some pretentious in time of peace, occupied by the
cavalrymen relieved at Kingston. Camped a mile below in a
pretty grove, a good ways from water. Slept in an old house
that threatened to demolish us by tumbling over.

Etowali Bridge, Ga., Wednesday, July 13. Up early. Moved
6 A. M. 4th Minnesota, 18th Wisconsin, 80th Ohio and 12Ui
Battery moved on to Allatoona, four miles further on. We

[229]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY lisa:

went into a fort on a steep cliff or point on the Etowah River
and commanding the railroad bridge seventy feet high, erected
by Sherman's Construction Corps. Found everything ready
for us, a luck we never before met with, strong fortifications
already built, good and neat shebangs, horse-sheds for most of
the horses made of lumber, stalls and mangers all ready, and
in a few minutes we were as much at home as though we had
worked a week. The scenery here is romantic and I hope we
may stay here for a time at least. Bathed in the river early
evening. Pretty stream.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, July 14. All still and dull, the
monotony of camp settled down upon us very soon, a few new
shebangs and fixing up around quarters. No mail or news
found us in this wild mountainous locality. Country people
very ignorant.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, July 15. Grazed in forenoon. De
tail and three wagons sent out after oats. Harvested it and
brought it to camp. Fed to horses in evening. Found plenty
four miles down the river. Brought back piles of apples. No
break in the monotony of camp. Evans obtained pass for him
self and eight men to go outside pickets to pick blackberries.
Spencer, Evans, D. Wallace, Hayes and myself started one
morning, followed the secesh railroad running up south side of
river to iron works. Walked about five miles, saw a large flour
ing mill and rolling mills, two of the largest water powers I
ever saw, all the works completely destroyed.

Crossed over mountains, through gorges, till at last found
blackberries with no ending. Eyes could not wish for more
Surrounded by the wildest of hills, but little trace of civiliza
tion. We picked our dishes full. I picked nine quarts in
about two hours. Awful warm, sweat more than I ever did in
August field. Beached camp but little before retreat. Tired
and loaded down with berries. Our mess at night ate nearly

[230]

1864] BLACKBERRY HUNT

one-half bushel of berries. Ate till nearly sick. Whew! what
a country.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, July 16. Had a long ride on
south bank .of river to graze. Stopped in a beautiful field o±
"red top". Wagons out hauling grass into camp. Yankees
running an old McCormick reaper as mower with mule teams,
doing big business. Weather very, very hot. Felt nearly ex
hausted when we reached camp, but a healthy reaction took
place upon trading a big "foolscap" letter, all from home, also
the likeness of sister Margaret and her two little boys. Sweet
little ones. It brought to memory the time I was with you, and
how I delighted to ride you upon my knee.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, July 17. Another quiet, still, hot
Sabbath day, the dullness of camp life felt in all its might.
Could not drive it away, but by writing letters. Inspection 6
A. M. Grazed afterwards. Did not return till noon. Boys
loaded with apples, berries, etc.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, July 18. All well. Morning passed
off in usual way. Grazing, etc. Great scarcity of news. For
variety we went out on blackberry hunt in the afternoon with
Corporal Evans. Went five miles, picked dishes full. Visited
the ruins of rolling mills, called on several secesh women, re
turned by sundown, had a gay time and good supper.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, July 19. The usual routine of
duty unbroken. Our camp and position inspected by Major
of Artillery, General Steedman's Chief, who set us to policing
after supper. Slicked up in general. Bathed in Etowah in
the evening. Brigade band visited us, and discoursed beauti
ful music under the pale, soft light of the moon. A long train
of wagons, consisting of Sherman 's supernumerary teams left at
Chattanooga at the beginning of campaign, passed to the front.
Convalescents rejoining their regiments by every train.

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Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, July 20. Cool day. Health
good, but weigh, twelve pounds less than at Huntsville. Warm
weather thins me out. Dixon and Evie started early this morn
ing on horseback to catch fish in the numerous traps along
the river. Returned by dinner with "nary" a fish. A drove
of 2,000 beef cattle driven by to the front by convalescents.
Monthly issue of clothing made. Drew flour rations. Reports
are prevalent of the capture of Atlanta. Hope it is so. Good
bath in mill-dam in the evening.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, July 21. Very cold day. Grazed
as usual. Returned to find all rny lent mates gone berrying.
Washed my dirty clothing after dinner. A very heavy thunder
storm came up, 4 P. M. Deluged everything in my bunk
and soaked everybody in our shanty, a laughable time of it,
though rather wet. The berry party had returned, and we ate
while it rained, having a jolly time. Late in the evening a
bouncing big mail arrived, nearly all served. I received one.
from T. L. and family 's photograph. Very lifelike and accept
able.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, July 22. A pleasant day. Wrote
in the forenoon. Reading matter very scarce yet. About 10
A. M. a report was brought into camp by Elston from head
quarters dispatched by General Smith from the front, that
our troops entered city of Atlanta between 2 and 3 A. M.
this morning. Sundry attempts were made to raise a cheer
with but a feeble result. Past experience has taught us to be
ware of disappointments, and the thought of many slain was
saddening.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, July 23. Charlie Pickard took
his team to-day, thereby relieving me once more from driver's
duty. Went out on detail in the morning after lumber for
cook's shanty. Returned by noon. Heard the sad news that
Maj. Gen. J. B. McPherson was killed by the enemy this morn-

[232]

1864] DEATH OF MC PHERSON

ing, which spread gloom over all, yet we could not believe it as
we looked at the flag at Brigade headquarters still floating from
the top of its pole. But alas! it lowers and stops at half mast
and droops mournfully in sad significance. Ah yes, it is too
true.

Our beloved leader has offered up his life — a martyr to- free
dom.. In his death the Army of Tennessee has lost a gallant
commander, the cause of freedom a true and earnest supporter,
humanity a noble Christian gentleman, and the private soldier
one of his truest and warmest friends. Never did I see such
a gloom cast upon our camp. Every face wore a sad and mourn
ful appearance. One would hardly think the rough unfeeling
soldier would undergo such a change. But to one that had
seen the enthusiasm that his beaming face created in the
bosoms of the men on the bloody fields of Jackson, Champion
Hills and Vicksburg, knows too well the place he has taken in
our hearts. Sleep, noble leader. We have often watched thee
in the thickest of the fight, and honored thy heroism. We will
cherish thy memory while breath remains. May we all emulate
his example. 3 P. M. a train from the front brought the
earthly remains of him and Gen. Giles A. Smith, the dashing
brigade commander in the 2nd Division, 15th Corps. Had
monthly inspection 9 A. M. by Captains Dillon and Budlong.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, July 24. All very still and dull
in camp after morning inspection. Anxiously listening for
intelligence from the front. From the last reliable information
we received last night, Atlanta was not ours, terrible efforts
being made by General Hood, commanding rebel forces to re
take his lost position. Heavy cannonading could be heard
for an hour this morning, supposed to be in front.

2 P. M. While writing home, the long roll was sounded, and
the infantry fell in with arms, and we were ordered to be ready
for fight. The cavalry seen galloping over the hills. Waited
half an hour, when the men returned to their quarters, the

[233]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

scare being over. Proved to be a squad of guerrillas, estimated
at 150, which rushed upon one of our picket posts west of
town, capturing it and then skedaddled. No mail came in.
Track reported torn up. If they come and fool around here
much, they may get hurt. General Kilpatrick's headquarters
in town. Two of his cavalry brigades here, and one of ours.
In the evening Griff and I took a walk to town, the first time
I have been in it since arrived. Old fashioned and dilapidated.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, July 25. Had a very cold night.
Suffered for want of bed clothes notwithstanding the days are
very hot. Great anxiety felt for reliable news from the front.
Chattanooga Gazette reports capture of Atlanta. Trains from
the front deny it. Keceived two mails. Latest came in 4 P. M.
I received three letters.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, July 26. Not so cold last night.
Cool day. I spent it very quietly. Great dearth of reading
matter. Health very good. All the boys drew soft bread,
quite a rarity. Hard-tack getting wearisome.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, July 27. Cloudy day, showery
in the evening. Health very good. On guard, the first time
for a month. The moments passed slowly while on post, and
I was almost lonesome. 1st Ohio and 5th Kentucky Infantry
passed through on their way home this evening. They go right
from the front line of battle to homes that are awaiting them.
But a few of them left to represent the 1,000 that started.
Report Sherman surrounding Atlanta on all sides, expected to
be engaged to-day. Major General Steedman and staff gone to
the front. No mail received.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, July 28. Dull, drowsy and dreamy.
Nothing in camp but speculations on the affairs in front and the
future in general. A few have hopes of peace from the Peace
Commissioners in Canada, but fear it is delusive.

[234]

1864J A FRIENDLY FAMILY

Etowah Bridge, Friday, July 29. A very hot day. Hauled
load after load of water in the morning, afterwards went to
town with E. F. H. to spend the day. Saw General Kilpatriek,
a young officer. Fighting Joe Hooker sent to the rear with his
staff on a ''dinky". They go to Washington, Hope they'll
give him a chance to work.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, July 30. After breakfast, waited
to go with Corporal Knapp and 0. J. Burnham out after ber
ries. E. F. Hayes and I followed with pails. Walked about
five miles to the romantic country seat of Old Cooper. By
9 A. M. we had dishes full of the luscious fruit, upon which we
have feasted for the last month. Visited at a house inhabited
by an old couple called Williams, formerly of N. C. Very
social and friendly, apparently open-hearted and honest, but
ignorant, as was shown by the old man asking if Minnesota
was a state. A pretty young lady treated us to a drink of
good buttermilk which tasted home-like. And we started back.
Jerked a load of roasting-corn out of a corn field and returned
to camp by 1 P. M. exhausted by the heat which was very severe.
Had green corn for dinner and felt better. Thus the time
passes.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, July 31. A calm, quiet Sabbath
day. No excitement or news. Spent the day as I do all others,
reading and writing, etc. Much gambling going on amongst a
certain portion of the boys to-day as usual.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Aug. 1. On guard, second relief.
Health good. Everthing passed off smoothly with the exception
of no papers came. By order of General Sherman none to be
sold this side of the front, his policy being "those that fight
shall read". Right, and we cannot grumble, but hope they will
furnish enough for both soon.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Aug. 2. Rainy forenoon. Hot,
sultry in the afternoon. We are once more effectually chained

[235]

AN ARTILLERYiMAN S DIARY

in camp by General Smith. No passes to be allowed save those
approved by him. Yet we can go out grazing, etc. Had black
berry pies and green corn. Signed pay rolls, a pleasant task
in view of the pleasing anticipations of greenbacks. Paper
blockade still continues. 80th Ohio headed back from Acworth
to Besaca to relieve 10th Missouri. Going out of service, time
expired.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 3. Kilpatrick's Cavalry,
two brigades of which were camped below town, moved out
early this morning for the front with their division train. Cav
alry makes a big display, and it took them till nearly noon to
get under way, occupying as much road as a corps of infantry
would. 93rd Illinois also moved by to relieve 18th Wisconsin
at Allatoona, to allow them to take their veteran furlough, so
long and patiently waited for. Sixteen picked mule-teams from
the Division went to Sherman's headquarters. Rode out graz
ing this morning. Brought in a bag of peaches. Had sauce
and pies, very good. Lucky enough to buy a paper upon the
train to-night. Good news from Grant. Commenced his old
game of blowing up as at Vicksburg.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Aug. 4. The 63rd Illinois broke
camp at the foot of the hill and moved into town as provost
guards. This forenoon sultry. Sergeant Dixon took team out
side lines after lumber. In the afternoon we went to work to
tear down our single bunks and put up some double bunks on
one side. Made cupboard, etc. More comfortable and snug.
Bathed in the evening. All merry way into the night before we
could sober down enough to go to sleep. Light-hearted and
unconcerned about all things. Such is a soldier if he lives.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Aug. 5. A pleasant day. On guard,
third relief. After waiting all day, paymaster came about
4 P. M. and in a few minutes our greenbacks were counted out

[236]

1S64] MERIT AND FAVORITISM

for the months of May and July, sixteen dollars per month for
the first time.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Aug. 6. Very pleasant time. On
guard last night and this morning. Relieved at 9 A. M. Days
busy settling up, paying, dunning, changing, etc.. I have no
such work to do, Sergt. Alba Sweet, veteran, ordered to King
ston to take charge of a section of artillery. His men to be de
tailed from infantry, he to drill and organize, the position of
a lieutenant. A good boy and a true soldier*, best drill master
in the Battery. D. L. C. a recruit, detailed as clerk to head
quarters, which caused a little surprise among some of the old
soldiers, but he was a brother Mason.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Aug. 7. Very heavy rains last night,
river raised two feet this morning in a very few hours. Com
pany inspection at 7 A. M. Took sick man's team to graze.
Wrote letters in the afternoon. Very warm.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Aug. 8. A pleasant day of clouds
and sunshine in pleasing variety. Cannoneers called out this
morning for standing gun drill. I went out with a team. Two
wagons sent out in brigade train for forage ten miles. Re
turned by 3 P. M. Two negroes came in this morning from
McCook's disaster on the Macon Railroad, having been eight
days in the woods, subsisting upon blackberries, peaches, etc.
Having tasted freedom once, they will not succumb to the deg«
radation of slavery again. P. G. a big reckless dare devil, who
had been tied up the last five days for persisting in doing as
he pleased, was released, and a tender youth, unaccustomed to
the hard buffeting of a heartless world, tied instead for tres
passing upon the dignity 6f our stable sergeant.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Aug. 9. Rainy day. Drilled one
hour on gun this morning. Issued clothing for the month. I
drew a hat in which to brave the storms of another campaign

[ 237 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

(maybe). Infantry had regimental inspection in the afternoon.
No news. Heavy artillery, caissons and carriages going to the
front in large numbers.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 10. On guard, second re
lief. Two men under arrest again. Such cases getting frequent.
Rainy afternoon. No mail nor papers. All healthy, corn and
peaches in plenty.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Aug. 11. Slept most of the after
noon after coming off guard. Trains of wounded came from
the front, one of them stopped on switch. Had a: long talk with
the wounded. They belong to the Army of Tennessee. Severe
ly wounded on the 22nd ult., the day our loved leader fell, of
whom they speak most feelingly. Cheerful, in hopes of seeing
home soon. One little drummer boy lost his right arm. Help
ed him out of the car. Young and beautiful, crippled for life,
yet very light-hearted, buoyed up by knowing that he lost it hi
a good cause. Rumor that we are soon to go to the front.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Aug. 12. A pleasant day. Health
good. Spirits ditto. 9 A. M. the lead of McCook's Cavalry
Brigade hove in sight. Went into camp near town, composed
of the remnants of four regiments, one of which is the 1st Wis
consin Cavalry, a large number of which are still in the woods
or captured after the recent disaster on the Macon Road. It
is supposed by many that they will relieve us. They have been
constantly on the move since last April, and are in need of
rest and clothing. Casper and others of the Battery got up a
dance this evening down town, which attracted most of the gay
young men (and old men). They did not come home till day
light. A secondary affair I guess.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Aug. 13. A very quiet, warm
day. No news of interest. No mail. A feeble effort is being
made upon the part of some of my comrades in the Battery

[ 238 1

1864] COMMUNICATIONS THREATENED

($400 men) to get out of the service of the old Battery, agree
able to promise at the time of enlistment. li. S, K. written to
ex-Lieutenant Fancher for certificate to that effect. But I doubt
not the effort will be fruitless. A large corps of employees
from New York City at work on the railroad here, repairing
track, etc. Etowah branch taken up. Ties and rails sent to
the front. Battery passing on evening train.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Aug. 14. Inspection of men, knap
sacks, haversacks and canteens this morning. On guard, easy
work. Very hot and sultry. Wrote home as usual. Negro An
thony, the faithful old cook that has followed us for two years,
preached on the parade ground this morning. He had a large
audience and spoke for nearly an hour in his illiterate brogue,
the burden of his words were quotations. Though improperly
done, was evidence of a wonderful memory. Rebs reported
fighting at Dalton. Demanded surrender. Captured large
number of cattle at Adairsville. 5th Ohio Cavalry and 59th
Indiana went up the river early this morning in order to be
ready to fight.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Aug. 15. Cannoneers called out
this morning at 3 A. M. Stood by their guns till daylight.
Some anxiety felt as to affairs at Dalton and vicinity. Wheel
er's Cavalry is in the vicinity, reported on all sides, nothing
reliable. 59th Indiana recalled last night. Returned by 10
P. M. No trains going either way. Two trains of wounded came
up yesterday, were unloaded at Cartersville. One of trains
sent to Kingston to carry reinforcements ; other back to the fort.
Infantry under arms all day. First piece under Lieutenant
Jenawein ordered 2 P. M. to report at Division headquaters.
3 o'clock a train loaded with infantry (homeward bound) came
up from the front. Will reinforce our troops at Dalton if
necessary. 5 P. M. 93rd Illinois arrived on train from Alla-
toona, stopped here, took on the 48th. General Smith going
feack with seven regiments.

[239]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Aug. 16. A heavy uncertainty
rested upon the camp all day, no trains from either way. Head
quarters expecting an attack at this place momentarily. First
piece is in town there awaiting the foe. About 3 P. M. an order
ly dashed into camp reporting sixteen regiments of the enemy
crossing the river three miles below, but they did not come.
Sherman sent 300 muskets back this evening to arm convales
cents, etc. Seven hundred head of cattle (the remainder of
the drove that the rebs captured at Adairsville) stopped on the
flat over night. It is supposed that the rebs will try to destroy
the railroad bridge if possible. Notwithstanding war Lieuten
ant Clark and squad of armed men went out to peach orckard
ten miles and returned with a big load of delicious! ones.
Packed my knapsack preparatory to going South if necessary.
Doubtful.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 17. Night passed undis
turbed with us, but all was activity at Cartersville nearly all
night. Wagon trains loaded, standing hitched up ready to
move any moment. On fatigue duty this morning. Went out
after two loads of corn fodder, returned by 11 A. M. The
day was spent with anxious glances for the train from the
North, but none arrived. Although nothing formidable presents
itself to us, a feeling of weakness fills the mind when the single
thread that connects us with home and supplies is broken.
Wheeler is reported to have been repulsed at Dalton with heavy
loss, and General Smith is following, but Gen. S. D. Lee is sup
posed to be moving north towards this line with a heavy force
of infantry, estimated from ten thousand to thirty thousand.
Ditches, works were cleared out this evening. There are mus
kets at Brigade headquarters. If we should be pinched the
extra men would be supplied with them.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Aug. 18. Very quiet night, fol
lowed by as quiet a day. Mail train reported to be coming in

[2401

1864] ALARM PASSES

at 10 A. M., anxiously looked for to-day, but it did not come.
Rebels seem to be leaving us. We hear nothing of them to-day.
All we want is news and mail. I feel as though I was 2,000
miles farther away from home this week than last.

4 P. M. Startled by the shrill toot of the engine, followed by
a prolonged yell that would do honor to pandemonium, and we
knew the 3rd Division is coming home. 48th and 93rd returned
without firing a gun, chased the rebels across the Oostanaula
River. Reported to be 3,000 strong, going towards East Ten
nessee.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Aug. 19. "We passed a quiet night
and a pleasant day. Infantry was up most of the night felling
trees and building an abatis on the other side of river. Five
hundred cavalry reported in vicinity. Would not let horses out
to graze. Went on guard at 9 A. M. Road expected to be
repaired so trains pass by night. Several trains passed about
sundown. Anxiously looking for mail. A small package at
last arrived, but to my disappointment there was none for me.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Aug. 20. We were up in time to
see an expedition start down the river, consisting of 900 cavalry
and three regiments of infantry. They laid under arms all
night, and were going to ascertain if there was any force in this
vicinity. Infantry returned in six hours. Cavalry went.
Lieutenant Clark went out scouting with armed squad. Twenty-
six guerrillas and conscripters are all he can hear of. Brigade
of troops from Rome arrived yesterday but returned immediately
not needed. Went to town after being relieved from guard.
Back mail gone to the front.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Aug. 21. A very wet and rainy day.
Kept all hands in doors as much as possible. Washed off the
hill, raising the river very fast. Two small packages of mail
received, but none for me. Wrote home. Uncle Lester received
a new supply of reading matter, monthlies, etc. Very welcome.

16 [ 241 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

Bathed in the evening. Captain White, A. A. G. of the Divi
sion, died to-day, the most loved of all Smith's staff, a bright
and promising young man.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Aug. 22. To-day has been a dull,
quiet day. Health good. No news. Got a lot of peaches,
very nice. Heavy mail came in to-night. I received two, very
welcome.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Aug. 23. On guard, supernumer
ary. Very hot day. Health good. Back mail found us at
last, about a bushel of it distributed 8 A. M. This afternoon
went down town to attend Captain White's funeral at 4 P. M.
Most of the officers in the Division out in full regimentals.
One hundred and fifty infantry as escort. Formed lines in
front part of headquarters. Eight captains as pall bearers.
Coffin carried down the ranks enshrouded by a large national
flag. Troops at present arms. Body placed in an ambulance,
1st Brigade band playing a sweet but mournful dirge. Pro
cession started, viz:

1st, Chaplain in plain black uniform.

2nd, Band playing with muffled drums.

3rd, Infantry escort in four sections at reverse arms.

4th, Ambulance with coffin.

5th, Officers, lowest first, Smith and McCook in the rear.

The grave situated on a knoll neath large oaks. Infantry
formed line, rested on arms, while the Chaplain read a chapter
and offered an impressive prayer. All the Masonic brethren
dropped a twig of evergreen when the volleys were fired. Ben
ediction pronounced, and we returned on quick time, leaving
a true soldier, who is at rest.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 24. Health very good but
the day very hot. Day passed pleasantly reading, etc. 59th
Indiana left last night towards Chattanooga, leaving us very
weak at present. No citizens allowed inside lines.

[242]

1864] VENTURESOME FORAGERS

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Aug. 25. Oh, to-day it is very
warm. We can scarcely muster energy enough to move. Wrote
a short letter to T. L. Drove off condemned mules to the river.
No mail. Wm. Stewart and Andy Wentworth missing. Pears
are entertained about their safety.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Aug. 26. All the morning quiet in
these parts. Rebels very troublesome between Allatoona; and
Acworth, cutting up the track, creating scares, etc. Efforts
were made to hear of or find the lost boys to-day but to no
avail. The last heard of them they were in a peach orchard,
while the horses were grazing, where they were undoubtedly
gobbled. I fear they will be brutally murdered.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Aug. 27. Very warm. Went to
town in the morning. All were agreeably surprised by the re
turn of our old comrade and companion T. J. Hungerford from
Nashville. Looks well and hearty. Comes to be mustered out
with those he served with. 1st Platoon went into permanent
quarters in a machine shop building in town. Mail in the even
ing.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Aug. 28. Health very good. Usual
inspection at 7 A. M. On guard, third relief. Very hot in the
middle of the day. Sergeant Dixon with a squad of ten men
went out on pass. Returned 4 P. M. with a sack of ripe grapes
from the vineyard, and a lot of butter,, for which we traded our
coffee rations. Drink cold water altogether. Came off guard
at 9 P. M. to find two long letters from home which did me
much good to read, but was surprised to find them in great
alarm over my reported illness in Spring Green. All numbug.
Why will they not rely upon my own letters? Sister Hannah
off to Albion again. Ellen teaching, Jenn with the boys going
to school. How different are my duties from those of Thomas.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Aug. 29. A very warm day. Health
good. Old man Gordon, the oldest in camp, dangerously sick.

[243]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

Day spent very quietly. E. W. E. and I took a walk to town
after sundown, saw the mail train run off the track, switch left
open. Loaded with substitutes. Several jumped off and broke
their legs, setting the guards in great commotion to keep them
together.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Aug. 30. Very hot. Suffered from
a cold. Felt quite unwell in the afternoon, feverish and head-
aiche. Cousin Griff quite sick, looks bad, can eat nothing. Felt
very bad that I could do nothing for him. A letter was brought
to picket post this morning by a lady from our lost boys, stat
ing that they were prisoners in humane hands, going south
ward. A gymnasium pole was put up this day. All hands
required to go over it. Force used if persuasion failed, caus
ing much fun and good exercise. Mis-sent mail arrived. I
received one dated July 27.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 31. Awoke refreshed this
morning but suffered from severe pain over right eye all day.
On detail in the forenoon. Griff continues quite sick, unable
to sit up. Made him some toast for breakfast, but he could not
eat much. Mustered for pay and inspection at 12 M. The last
muster of the kind for many of the boys, over which they were
quite jubilant. 1st Battalion of 1st Cavalry mustered out of
service to-day. John Colburn, a one-year recruit, substitute
for Senator Wilkinson, arrived from Wisconsin. Sergt. Alba S.
Sweet down on a visit from Kingston, looks well. Railroad re
ported broken between Chattanooga; and Nashville. No mail.
Felt lonesome and sad to-night. It is not often 1 feel as gloomy.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Sept. 1. Cold night, rested well.
On guard, third relief. Pain over my eye continues very bad.
Griff is improving. Sergeant Hood went out with a squad on
pass. When they returned, several of them were too drunk to
take care of themselves, having obtained whiskey at Allatoona.
Too bad. Forage train went out this morning.

[244]

1864J ATLANTA IS OURS

While scouting, about 3 P. M. one of General Smith's body
guards, riding a little in the advance, was shot dead by some
cowardly bushwhackers, stripped of all valuables, boots and
hat, leaving the corpse in the road, taking two other prisoners.
It was the last day the poor fellow had to serve, expecting soon
to start for his home in St. Louis. He was one of the brave
men that once composed Fremont's body-guard. His loved
ones will wait for his coming in vain. The escort started out
in the evening with full determination to avenge the death of
their comrade, if possible. No mail. Wheeler is still in pos
session of Nashville Railroad at Tullahoma. Captain Dillon act,
ing chief of artillery on General Logan's staff. — court-mar-
tialled by Division court for old offence at Jackson.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Sept. 2. A hot and dull day. David
Bvans and myself visited the picket post this morning with our
coffee, rations and liquor to trade with the female rebs that come
with produce, guards not admitting them inside the lines any
more. Tried to get some butter, but in vain, there being too
many purchasers, who were returning as we went. No mail or
papers. " Old Wheeler " still holds the road near Nashville. Ru
mors are afloat of the capture of Atlanta. General Sherman's
army, not known where it is.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Sept. 3. A hot, sultry morning.
Severe storm of wind and rain in the afternoon, threatening to
tear our quarters to pieces. Everything wet and damp. Sher
man is fighting Hood southwest of Atlanta. 20th Army Corps
is in possession of that coveted stronghold.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Sept. 4. Inspection as usual at 7
A. M. 8 A. M. made glad by the arrival of Uncle Lester with
bag full of mail and papers. -Received none of the former, but
the news is glorious. Atlanta is ours. Sherman routed his foe.
Fort Morgan surrendered with prisoners. Wheeler retreating.
Hurrah! I say. Discouraging enough to the cowardly party

[245]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

that has just nominated G. B. McClellan for president at Chi
cago.

W. A. Gordon, one of the oldest members of the Battery, died
at noon in camp after a short but severe illness. He left a
large family last winter who will miss their kind father and
protector.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Sept. 5. This morning at 8 A. M.
we buried the remains of Mr. Gordon, the coffin borne on a cais
son followed by martial band of 48th Infantry playing the
dead march. His remains were consigned to their last habi
tation on a pretty knoll neath large oaks, without a tear or a
sigh. He was left, the band playing a lively march as if to
drown all thought of the dead. Another poor soldier "off
duty". The sound of the reveille will awaken him to duty no
more. May his ashes rest in peace in a traitor's land.

On guard, second relief. Cloudy, but little rain. No mail.
Two long, empty trains passed to the front, supposed to go for
prisoners.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Sept. 6. My health is very good.
Weather very oppressive. Little rain during the afternoon. No
trains from the North. Rations being hauled to Atlanta from
Marietta to subsist the army on.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Sept. 7. Very chilly night. Con
tinued cold all the morning. A heavy train passed to the rear
loaded with prisoners. They will lay over at Chattanooga, the
Nashville Road not open yet. Seems strange to go without mail
so long. All the news from Sherman makes his victory more
complete. Captain Dillon returned from the front.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Sept. 8. One detail sent out af
ter two loads of corn, cut it in the field. Five hundred more
prisoners passed North. Trains run regular from Chattanooga,
carrying supplies of which there is enough to feed the army

[246]

1864] ARMY CLOTHING

for several months yet. Horses can live off the country, but
rather scarce picking for us.

E to wan Bridge, Friday, Sept. 9. Three years ago to-day the
first men enlisted for the 6th Wisconsin Battery, a day never
to be forgotten by many. Rumors of marching soon are once
more afloat. 4th Corps to guard the line. It is said we are
to join 15th Army Corps in camp, five miles south of Atlanta
to rest one month.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Sept. 10. Drew clothing, the
price of which is advanced considerable. Notwithstanding the
old boys lay in a good supply. Uncle Sam gives it cheaper
than New York merchants. Brigade band visited us in the
evening, discoursed beautiful music for about an hour, when a
still sweeter thing arrived — mail — lots of it. Seized with avid
ity and devoured greedily after a week's fasting. Received
three from home. Found them in great anxiety on my account.
Making strenuous efforts to escape the draft, which overhangs
them like a dark cloud. Went to sleep with the happy conclu
sion that I was better off than any of them after all.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Sept. 11. Inspection 7 A. M. after
which. - - as prisoner, was marched under guard to the left
of the Company, while Lieutenant Clark read the proceedings
of the court-martial by which he was tried on the 1st inst. and
approved by General Smith. The old charge of mutiny, com
mitted over a year ago at Vicksburg, was brought against him,
for which he was confined in military prison for five months,
until released by the generous McPherson. Several other friv
olous charges, on all of which found guilty with one exception.
Sentence — forfeit all pay and balance to become due him, con
fined at hard labor in some military prison for two years, after
which to be dishonorably discharged. We were all saddened at
the unexpected severity of the sentence of our comrade. He
was immediately taken to town, where he will be taken to Nash-

[247]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY '1864

ville. G— -'s is one of those rough, unyielding, profane natures,
capable of much more good than the world credits them for.
Officers always placing themselves against him with an iron
rule, while with different treatment he might have been a pli
able and good soldier, but as it was, frequently in trouble, un
der guard. It was the first time I ever saw his reckless spirit
subdued. As he left his old comrades, large tears of anguish
rolled down his cheeks, and I could but shudder at the gather
ing cloud upon his brow. What terrible resolutions might be
formed under that tumultuous breast. How necessary it is
that the officers should understand the science of the human
mind. Until then such cases will occur. Much of the day was
spent sympathizing with him, etc. I wrote home. No mail.

E to wan Bridge, Monday, Sept. 12. Very quiet and pleasant
day. On detail to load forage. Harness oiled in the afternoon.
Most of the mail taken to the front. Politics the theme of the
day. Considerable discussion. The friends of the U. S. are
like angel visits "few and far between" but wonderfully in
earnest.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Sept. 13. Sultry day. Health
very good. On guard, third relief. Mail arrived late in the
evening bringing me five letters with the good news that my
dear brothers were exempt from the draft, which made me feel
perfectly happy and the hours passed pleasantly on post.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Sept. 14. Spent the day very
pleasantly looking over the large pile of papers received in mail
last night. Bathed in the evening. The musical ones of our
Company have put up a small tent where every evening they
congregate and produce a large amount of noise, if not music.
Fiddle, banjo, tambourine, triangle and bones used with a will.
They had a "gander dance" to-night on gun platform till very
late, seemed to enjoy it capitally.

[248]

1864 POLITICS IN CAMP

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Sept. 15. Health, spirits and
weather very good. A train of forty wagons with a heavy cav
alry escort went to Stilesboro, a guerrilla hole, two miles down
the river. Returned loaded with cotton. Rebs burning it as
fast as possible. This will amply pay for the mules they cap
tured on the 13th inst. Went to town in the evening with
Griff.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Sept. 16. Last night was very cold,
freezing a little this morning. Hot enough in midday. No
news or excitement. No prospects of marching very suddenly
now. The " '61 boys" are rather apprehensive that their pa
pers will not come around in time to leave on the 20th. In
teresting congratulatory order from General Logan read to us
at retreat to the 15th Army Corps saying that they fear not
tte enemy, but punish and defeat him.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Sept. 17. On guard, third relief.
Mail received 8 A. M. Got a letter from Cousin John, wounded,
lying in New York Harbor. Doing well, full of pluck and pa
triotism. A sharp spice of politics was thrown in to-day.
"Macs" [supporters of McClellan for president] growing fewer,
several on the fence. Policed camp in the evening.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Sept. 18. Rainy night, and con
tinued cloudy through the day. Contracted a bad cold while
on post last night. Received two letters from John and Han
nah in the evening. Caused a sad train of thought to come in
any mind, and could not sleep, long after all was hushed in
camp.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Sept. 19. Fine day. Health not
very good. On fatigue in the morning. Teams go out in divi
sion train, bringing in corn, Our horses will now have to live
off the country for awhile. Another request to be relieved was
sent to General Howard's headquarters to-day by Lieutenant

[ 249 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

Clark, the former supposed to have been pigeon-holed some
where. John Rogers started home on sick furlough.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Sept. 20. Drew hard-tack again.
Orders received to prepare pay rolls. 6th Battery minstrels
made their first appearance in public this evening. The troupe
was taken to the old hall in town where the 1st Platoon ie.
Curiosity prompted me to go and see what they could do, so I
fell in with a large squad of the Battery boys. Found the room
well filled, a large stage erected, an old tent-fly for curtain, red
horse blankets for scenery. Troupe consisted of eight players,
and Corporal Dziewanowski manager. They appeared black
ened and dressed in imposing style. They sang, played and
danced with desperate efforts at the nigger, but their songs
were stale old jokes, still the execution not bad. They need
more originality; however, they did well for "green 'uns" and
it pleased soldiers.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Sept. 21. An old-fashioned
rainy day, thick and heavy, did patter on our roof all day,
gathering in wild torrents rushing down the hillsides. On
guard, third relief. Signed pay rolls before breakfast.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Sept. 22. Wet and dreary, but
little life manifested till 3 P. M. when the news came that order
releasing the old boys was at headquarters. Received with a
cheer and everybody moving. Lieutenant Clark busy taking
names preparatory to turning the Battery over.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Sept. 23. At morning roll call
Lieutenant Simpson announced the new appointment of non
commissioned officers, viz:

1st Sergeant, Alba Sweet, a moral man, deserving.
Quarter-Master Sergeant, S. B. Sweet, also good appointment.
1st Gun Sergeant, Fred Malish, will make strict disciplinarian.
2nd Gun Sergeant, H. P. James, very pleasant, easy fellow.
3rd Gun Sergeant, M. Dziewanowski, a favorite of the boys.

[250]

A GROUP OF OFFICERS ix GTH WISCONSIN BATTERY

1864] A LONESOME PARTING

4th Gun Sergeant, L. N. Keeler.

Corporals, D. Goodwin, C. Hutchinson, Frank Parish, D. Stewart, John
Eagion, A. Ray, J. W. Proctor and Ed. K. Hill.
Landen and Spencer, artificers.

The appointments were duly criticized during the day. No
great objection raised against except - — , his previous conduct
"hanging around the officers", seeking position, and overbear
ing spirit has created much dislike for him. Headquarters are
filled with rebel prisoners.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Sept. 24. Another rainy, disagree
able day. The public property of the Battery is now turned
over to Simpson and everything is ready to start for home, only
waiting for transportation. Captain Dillon came to camp at
noon. He takes command of the old Company on their way
home. Capt. G. J. * * * relieved him as chief of ar
tillery. Monthly inspection by Division inspector at 1 P. M.
He found the camp rather upside down, after which a cham
pion game of base-ball was played on the flat between the non-
veterans and veterans. The non-veterans came off victorious
by 11 points in 61. The day passed sadly for me at thought of
parting with my loved companions.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Sept. 25. The boys expected to get
off early this morning, but the Rebs burned a train near Big
Shanty last night, obstructing the road so no train could come
up.

12 M. Capt. Zickerick of the 12th Battery came up from Al-
latoona with about thirty of his boys to bid good-bye to the old
6th boys, and reported a train due in an hour. The wagons
were loaded with their baggage, and they immediately started
for town. Now came the leave-taking with many. I with
others had to bid adieux to our old messmates, beside whom
we had marched through many a rough campaign, slept under
the same blankets, eaten from the same plate, stood together
OH many a bloody battle-field, watched and nursed each other

r 251 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

while sick. How close had our lives twined together in less
than three years' service. Many a stout heart that had met
death with a calm brow, could now hardly choke down the bit
ter tears, yet they were no cowards, but throbs of a manly
heart. They return but a small band of those who started.
Many of them have bleached their bones in Southern clime, and
thirty-two of them are brave veterans staying behind to com
plete the work they enlisted for. Friends at home, you can lit
tle realize the trial they underwent to-day in bidding good-bye
to their original comrades. You should not call their anxiety
for their phototypes, autographs or anything as a remembrance
foolish. I walked with friend Evie to train, intending to see
him off, but the train did not come, and I too had to say good
bye. It was the hardest task I have performed since tearing
myself from the arms of a dear mother on the threshold of my
old home in Wisconsin. But I took their kind "Take care of
yourself" and turned my back. I must say a few tears did fall,
but not from any regret at staying behind. I return to camp
cheerfully to do my duty. But oh, it did look very lonesome.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Sept. 26. Everything was so very
still this morning that I did not wake up till roll call, and then
there were but very few to be seen, only thirty-four for duty,
which will be very heavy. Worked hard all day cleaning the
stables. Boys have not left yet, as no train came from the
front. Griff and I were down with them this evening for a
while.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Sept. 27. Was happy to learn that
the boys got off last night. On water detail this morning, then
went and stayed with R. L. Booth in the hospital, who is very
sick. His brother had to leave him, did not know whether he
could live an hour or not as he was very low. Cousin Griff
and Dan Davis both put into the same platoon as myself and
stay in the same shebang, making a very cozy little circle.

[252]

1864] WATCHING HOOD

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Sept. 28. On guard, second re
lief. Everything so very quiet that it was very lonesome.
Lieutenant Simpson is steadily but firmly tightening the reins,
and instituting strict discipline. Guards instructed to walk
their beats. If caught seated to be punished. Only ten min
utes allowed to turn out at reveille. Heavy details at work all
day cleaning out stables, etc. Camp policed. Griff left us to
cook in hospital. Railroad again severed somewhere. Our
Brigade ordered to erect winter quarters. Long train sent out
for lumber ten miles down the river. Our teams went along.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Sept. 29. Damp and disagreeable
to stand guard last night. Felt dull, ate no breakfast. Went
to picket post this morning, bought a quart of buttermilk, 25 cts.
per quart, which with bread at 15 cents per loaf, I made a home
like dinner. Took our team to graze in the afternoon. Found
Chattanooga papers of to-day in camp on return, but nothing
from the North. Hood's whole army reported to be on their
way north to sever Sherman's communications, which seems
very probable, as several trains heavily laden with soldiers passed
north. Another lumber train out.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Sept. 30. Rained all night but cleared
off this morning. D. J. D. and myself washed our clothes out
and did other woman's work. Grazed in the afternoon, taking
a guard 's team out. Detailed to go after corn. While horses eat,
three of us filled a wagon in a pocket three miles from camp.
Troops still going to the rear. Wild rumors afloat as to Hood's
movements and whereabouts. No mail yet.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Oct. 1. Company mess instituted
this morning instead of platoon. Uncle Henderson, cook, two
negro assistants. Drew soft bread for supper, which was duly
appreciated after grinding hard-tack for fifteen days. Troops
still going to the rear, while we are kept in blissful ignorance of
all passing events by the non-arrival of Northern trains. I

[253]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [18(

sometimes wish old Wheeler was dead, so I could get my mail.
On guard.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Oct. 2. After a rough tour of guard
last night in rain with thunder and lightning, I feel somewhat
drowsy to-day, and am a little impatient for mail and news.
G. M. S. received a few Chattanooga papers from Lester, also
a note saying they were at Chattanooga on the 30th. I expect
they are getting impatient by this time. Wrote to John as usual
but have little hopes of it reaching him for some time. Raids I
Eaids! again. No up-train from Atlanta. Road torn up at
Marietta and Big Shanty.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 3. Rode Sweet's horse out this
morning to get muscadines. Caught in an awful shower, got
thoroughly drenched. Storms are very frequent and come with
more vehemence here than any place I have ever seen. The last
two weeks past heavy rains every twenty-four hours, deluging
camp, sweeping down the hillsides, raising the rippling Etowah
into a turbid torrent, even leaping its banks and carrying every
thing in its way like an infuriated monster. A large body of
earth and rock fell from the side of the railroad cut in this hill,
filling the track. Fifty men of the 48th at work most all night
clearing it out. Our lower bastion also fell in, in consequence
of the heavy rains.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 4. Heavy rain last night again.
Three teams and twelve men out foraging in division train. On
guard. Detailed to take a team out after guard mounting. We
are completely isolated from all other forces. Only one engine
and four cars on this piece of the road. The enemy is on this
side of Big Shanty, successfully holding his own and moving up
the track, tearing things as they go. We have good reasons to
expect them here soon. They will find us weak in number, but
strong in heart, ready to punish traitors any time. 63rd Illinois

[254]

1864] PREPARING FOR ATTACK

gone to Kingston to meet a force reported to be moving on that
place.

This is the second anniversary of that bloody day at Corinth,
when so many of the 6th Battery bit the dust while gallantly
doing their duty. Is this remnant of that band soon to pass
through a like ordeal? I pray not, but they will be true to their
memory if called upon.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Oct. 5. 8 A. M. heavy cannonad
ing has been distinctly heard in the vicinity of Allatoona for an
hour, telling us that they are coming. Simpson had the drivers
harness up to get their horses straight. Cavalry scouts gone
out. Camp is very quiet, but all are in earnest. While I write,
guard mounting is going on as deliberately as ever. Many of
those that go out on out-post to-day may never return.

Evening. This has been a busy day for us all. Terrific fight
ing has been going on at Allatoona all day. Occasional shots
are still heard. Brevet General Raum, commanding Division,
and Captain Zickerick, chief of artillery, started to go into the
pass early this morning, but were intercepted by rebel pickets
and narrowly escaped capture. Captain Zickerick immediately
came into the fort and vigorous measures were taken for defense.
Deeming the lower bastions where the third and fourth pieces
were stationed a poor position, the range being very limited, he
immediately sent for pioneer corps. Shacks and headquarters
shanty were torn down, and a half -moon work was erected with
sand bags on the brow of the hill with three embrasures com
manding all the south and east. While Captain McBride and his
pioneers were hard at work on the new work, the Battery boys
worked hard fixing up the embrasures on the old work, raising
it with sand bags, etc. Not knowing what moment the enemy
would appear, detachments were numbered off and everything
ready for action. 59th Indiana Infantry was up in the after
noon, erecting benches around the work so as to sharp-shoot over
the parapet. About sundown the works were so far completed

[255]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

as to be used if necessary, and the guns and caissons of the left
Section were hauled up by ropes, the whole Company taking hold
as gay and gleeful as if they were preparing for a 4th of July
celebration. Our kind-hearted Chief of Artillery was with us
all day, coat off, hard at work, often with shovel in hand, dis
playing at once a sympathetic heart and skill as a military officer.
He left us late in the evening with instructions to do the best
we could, he would be with us right away if he heard firing. My
number is 6, to deal out ammunition.

We have heard nothing from the fight. General Corse is
commanding at Allatoona, having reached there about midnight
last evening with the 7th and 27th Illinois and 38th Indiana
as reinforcements; more to come from Rome, Georgia. Another
train with three regiments steamed carefully into the pass at
7 P. M., leaving them in their supposed rear near the woodshed.
Played an interesting game of four-handed chess by candle light
before retiring.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Oct. 6. Reveille sounded at 4 A. M.
but nothing unusual transpired. Couriers from Allatoona re
port the enemy whipped and retreating. Pioneer corps came
up early to work, but the rain fell in such torrents that they
left their tools and went to camp.

This afternoon Captain Zickerick returned from Allatoona,
bringing us authentic reports of the yesterday's battle. The
enemy was about 5,000 strong, being French's Division of Lee's
Corps. Our force, all told, 1,500. So confident of success were
they that a flag of truce was sent in in the morning demanding
our surrender in five minutes to prevent the unnecessary spill
ing of blood. But the gritty little general, who was bored by
rebel bullets at Mission Ridge last winter, couldn't see it. He
replied that he was prepared to commence "the unnecessary
spilling of blood" at once. And the ball opened. Three distinct
times did they charge the works where the 12th Wisconsin
Battery was stationed, but in vain. Every time they were

[256]

1864] A HARD FIGHT

forced back with terrible loss. One time they forced the 93rd
Illinois from a small work, but the 12th Battery turned their
guns on them, double shotted with canister, obliging them to
abandon it at a terrible loss. They opened on us with eight
pieces of artillery, doing no damage, when our guns played on
them so close that the cannoneers had to be kept at their post
with fixed bayonets. They made desperate efforts to take the
large amount of commissary stores kept there. Many of them
pinched with hunger, brought the boxes of hard-lack to fill their
haversacks while under a murderous fire. They were accom
panied by 300 empty wagons to haul off the hard-tack, but the
tack they got was not very welcome, and a little before sundown
the whole company broke, and retreated toward Dallas, a de
feated army, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands,
about 2,000. But many of our own brave men lost their lives.
The 93rd Illinois alone lost 80. Three companies of the 18th
Wisconsin, stationed in a block house, were surrounded early in
the morning, but held their own in spite of artillery and mus
ketry until 5 P. M., when the besiegers, failing every other way,
built a fire all around it, telling them to come out or suffocate
by smoke. All these brave men fell prisoners, but not until sixty
men lay dead around to attest to the valor of the eighty-four
within. General Corse was wounded in the face, and all of
his staff killed or wounded. Colonel Tourtellotte of 4th Minne
sota and many others. The 12th Battery won great laurels,
losing more men than ever before. Lieutenant Amsden wounded,
appeared to be fatal. Four killed and two others wounded
fatally. Fifteen wounded slightly. All their horses nearly gone.
They were the best in the Corps too. Our total loss was 722 men.
Had the reinforcements come up at noon, which they would,
had not the train run off the track, a large portion of them
would have been captured. The main charging column of the
rebels was the famous Missouri Brigade that fought them before
at luka, Corinth, Champion Hills, and occupied Fort Hill during
the siege of Vicksburg. Many of them came into our lines, tired

17 [ 257 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

at last of war. I don't think there has been more desperate
fighting done this year than yesterday at Allatoona.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Oct. 7. Called up early to go a-
foraging. Swallowed a hasty breakfast and started while it was
yet dark, but did not start from Cartersville till 9 A. M. The
train consisted of about ninety wagons. After the usual amount
of halting, crowding and swearing, by mule drivers and wagon
masters, we started west, three armed men to a wagon. Trav
eled ten miles through much more beautiful country than I ex
pected to find in the Etowah Valley. Saw some palatial man
sions with beautiful surroundings. Here our advance saw, or
thought they did, "them guerrillas" and they dared not go any
farther. Turned out into a field of about four hundred acres,
but the corn was very scarce, not having had any care, and
choked with weeds. We succeeded in getting half loads. Many
returned empty.

Beached camp by 5 P. M. Boys had been at work all day on
fort. The Etowah River higher than it has been since we have
been here. This morning a large field of driftwood came down,
threatening to sweep off the railroad bridge. Displaced several
boats and the track sagged about two feet in the center. Pio
neers at work all day keeping off the float-wood. Several of
our boys went up to Allatoona yesterday. Returned to-day,
having been engaged in dressing wounds, etc. all night. They
bring the usual accounts of suffering that follows every battle.
Many of the wounded lay out in the cold rain of yesterday. A
train loaded with them for Rome, lays at the end of the bridge,
failing to cross. The wounded are being transferred to cars on
this side by means of ambulances. They must suffer terribly
to-night.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Oct. 8. Last night was very cold,
slept uncomfortable. How the poor, half-naked wounded in the
box cars at the foot of the hill could stand it is more than I

[2581

1864] GENERAL SHERMAN

know. Lay here till 1 P. M., when they were taken to town by
land. No engine around. I am on guard. All hands hard at
work. It is slow work digging in rocky formation. Pioneers
at work taking out the drift in the river to try and save the
bridge. Two hundred fifty men of the Construction Corps
tarried this evening to repair the bridge. They come from
Eesacai. That bridge is nearly all out, broken by rafts, supposed
to be started by the rebels. No mail.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Oct. 9. It is the Sabbath day, but
one cannot realize it in the busy whirl of duty. Came off guard
at 7 A. M. All the rest of the day worked very hard with a-11
the rest. Everything else is neglected. The day being decid
edly cool, a big job was accomplished. Never did men work
more cheerfully. Buglers, corporals and sergeants down to
mule drivers turn out of their own free will and work.

Some hopes were entertained that we would receive mail to
night, but none came. Played a game of chess by candle light,
and now I will retire to my hard but inviting couch.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 10. Hailed the coming day
with gladness this morning as it was so very cold we suffered
from it. More like Wisconsin than Georgia. Found the infan
try under arms since 3 A. M. and another "scare" prevailing.
Fell out to work at 7, pioneers helping us. Ordnance train
came up from town this morning and deposited their stores in
side of the fort, filling our magazines with artillery ammunition ;
90 boxes of three inch rifle; 40 12-pounder guns; 150 boxes of
infantry ammunition, guns, sabres and other stores piled up inside
the works covered with tarpaulins. A sergeant and seven men
with them as guards, to guard our guns also, which lightens our
duty greatly. Only three guards on duty.

General Sherman in Cartersville since this morning. The
23rd Army Corps marching through all day, almost on a double
quick. His whole army is making a retrograde movement ex-

[259]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

cept the 20th Army Corps which is in Atlanta, fortifying it so
as to hold it against Hood's whole army, if necessary. He (Hood)
is now north of the Chattahoochee River threatening some north
ern point. It is confidently expected that he will soon have rea
son to repent of his rashness. The troops are somewhat disap
pointed in being obliged to take the field so soon after the capture
of Atlanta. In the evening I walked to town with Ed. Hayes.
Saw the great but unassuming genius that holds in his hands
the fate of the noble. Army ,of the West. He appeared in a
brown study, constantly walking with his hands in his pockets,
more like a farmer than a general. The Etowah bridge com
pleted by sundown. Disappointed by the non-arrival of mail.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 11. This morning as we awoke
the bugles of the 4th and 14th Army Corps resounded through
the hills, and the plain in front of our camp was covered with
camp fires, looking "as of old". They had marched nearly all
night, many of them very hungry. Opened ten boxes of surplus
hard- tack for those that came after them during the night. They
again filed out 6 A. M., many of them without a wink of sleep.
Advance of the old 15th Army Corps came in sight 8 A M. hav
ing marched ten miles before breakfast. Moving very rapidly.
Pioneers digging rifle pits. Battery boys worked on the old
embrasure till 3 P. M., when the assembly sounded and orders
given to hitch up and prepare to move immediately. Some
what surprised we hastily made the necessaty preparations,
stood harnessed up half an hour, when the order was counter
manded and estimate sent in of horses necessary to move the
Battery. Commenced writing to John but was interrupted by
the arrival of a heavy mail. I received but one.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Oct. 12. A very beautiful day.
Worked the forenoon on the embrasures. Policed camp after
dinner. Marching excitement has somewhat abated, but I ex
pect to march before a great while. The troops are all passed

F 260 1

1864 NIGHT WORK

fl

now, but the trains and beef cattle pass all day. Artillery firing
heard in the direction of Rome.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Oct. 13. Last night about mid
night the whole camp was aroused. I was out in a hurry think
ing the Johnnies were coming, but was somewhat disappointed
upon finding the ordnance officer there ready to put a 1,000
rounds of musket ammunition on my shoulders to carry down the
hill. Here a train was waiting to take it to Resaca, where a
collision was expected between the two armies. We had to
carry 100 boxes infantry, 15 boxes cavalry, and 20 of 12-pounder
ammunition, which was done very quietly in about half an hour.
I carried six loads, by which time I was very tired, a little the
hardest work I have ever done. Went to bed again, did not get
up till late. My left shoulder pains me considerable from last
night's fatigue. Pleasant day. Health very good. Very big
mail. I received five.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Oct. 14. A warm day and I felt first
rate. Policed camp and prepared for inspection at 2 P.M. by
Inspector General of the Division and Chief of Artillery, which
came off in good style. Made a good appearance generally.
Still a great uncertainty hangs over Sherman and his army.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Oct. 15. Called out at 4 A. M. to
go.a-foraging. Went out on the Canton road about fifteen miles
through broken country such as middle Georgia affords. Only
about one-tenth of this area tillable land. Loaded up in small
pockets. Our wagon capsized so we barely got off with half a
load. On our way back the rebs hung in our rear, but did not
molest us. Reached camp 9 P. M., hungry as a wolf. Found
our shebangs all torn down and new quarters started.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Oct. 16. Another Sunday. Spent
very busy in putting up quarters which are put in one line.
Wedge tents raised on a wall fifteen inches high lengthened out to

F 261 1

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

twelve feet. By night we had them completed mostly. I am
very tired.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 17. Volunteered to go out
with Sergeant Dziewanowski and twenty men, eight of them arm
ed with muskets issued by the ordnance sergeant for the occasion,
to the rolling mills for brick, stone, etc. Teams returned immedi
ately, but the mounted men rode over the country till late in the
evening. I stayed and took a home-like dinner with Grandma
Williams for fifty cents.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 18. Three teams and six men
gone a-f oraging with two days ' rations. They go up into Chero
kee County. Our horses have nothing, only what is foraged for
them and grazing once a day, but the grass is getting dry.
McCook's Cavalry that have laid here for several weeks, broke
camp this morning and marched northward. Worked this fore
noon. In the afternoon wrote to my old comrade E. W. E., but
there is no prospect of it reaching him soon. Weather beautiful.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Oct. 19. Day passed very
quietly. Our quarters are all done except chimneys. Principal
work done was playing chess and eating walnuts, which is the
only game I indulge in at present. We have wild rumors that
Hood has split his army, two corps retreating. One going north,
Sherman following both, but nothing definite. Kilpatrick's
wagon-train and convalescents reached here to-day. His head
quarters are at Stilesboro, fifteen miles west. Took a pleasant
walk to town with Griff after retreat. Enjoyed myself well.
But there is an aching void in my heart, which cannot be filled
without news from home.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Oct. 20. To-day is ration day and
we begin to feel the effects of the blockade. Only half rations
of everything except hard-tack. No salt. Heavy trains of sup
plies are being taken north every day from Allatoona. The

[262]

1864] CAMP RUMORS

winds, I guess, waft the tidings of noble Morton's election in
Indiana with 4,000 majority to us. Hope it is true. The Indi
ana soldiers in camp here seem highly elated. Band played till
after midnight last night.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Oct. 21. After dinner our Platoon
harnessed up three teams to a wagon to go after brick for chim
neys. Before starting Dan Goodwin brought a big mail from
town in which were seven for me. Hailed a lot of stationary
sent by Evie. Kead my letters on my way after brick. Went
about three miles from camp. When we returned found Lieuten
ant Simpson and fifteen of the boys gone to Nashville for horses
to fill up the Battery. Marching rumors again afloat. All
convalescents not able to march ordered to Chattanooga. Dan
went out of our tent, five out of the Platoon, leaving me a team
to take care of until they return.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Oct. 22. A council was held this
morning to know whether we should put up our chimney or wait
to see whether we would leave. Decided to do all we could for
our comfort, and let marching take care of itself. By night we
had the satisfaction of sitting by a fire and knowing that the
chimney smoked out of the right end.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Oct. 23. The forenoon was occupied
by grazing horses, etc. The afternoon, in writing. The pre
vailing topic is marching, when and where. It is supposed we
will join our Corps. Logan's headquarters reported at Cedar
Mountain in northern Alabama. Details are still at work on
the defenses. Double lines of palisades are set on the crown of
the hill. The timber all felled on the mountains in our rear.
Park at Brigade headquarters made a strong artillery position.
We can now successfully resist ten times our number.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 24. Was on detail to go on a
two days' foraging expedition but Charlie Pickard took my

[263]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

place, and both were better suited. Wrote to John in the after
noon. No mail or news whatever. We are fast becoming ac
customed to this state of things.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 25., On guard to-day. Drew
half rations of everything except hard-tack. Had no corn for
horses. Took out sacks as we went grazing. Husked some in a
field where a woman swore in a terrible manner, made a desper
ate onslaught on us with words, but I got some corn. Forage
train returned into camp* 4 P. M. Charley brought in two ducks,
and a lot of sweet potatoes.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Oct. 26. A windy, cloudy day,
indications of rain. When we came in from grazing, found mail
awaiting us. Received a good home letter. Several through
trains from Chattanooga passed to the front last night. Late
this evening a portion of the 48th Indiana started for Resaca by
raiL Rebs tearing up the tracks again.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Oct. 27. Rained all night and
cloudy through the day. Grazed forenoon as usual. Wrote to
sister Hannah in the afternoon. A small mail received. None
for me.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Oct. 28. Weather is most beautiful.
Health excellent. Plenty to eat and not too much to do. Conse
quently the day passed off very pleasantly, playing chess and
reading papers about a month old, but new to us. Notified at
retreat to prepare to go foraging to-morrow morning.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Oct. 29. Rolled out early, fifteen
of us going foraging to load fourteen wagons from division train,
all going for corn for the battery regiments at Cartersville.
6 A. M. an escort of seventy armed infantry came along and all
unarmed men turned back, including Battery detail. None of
us sorry. Arrived in camp in the afternoon, and built corn crib.
We have the satisfaction of knowing that our "cracker line" is

[264]

1864] THE "NIGGER QUESTION

once more in running order. Trains have been passing every
half hour through the day. An unexpected order was very
quietly received 5 P. M. from Major Stolbrand, Corps chief of
artillery, ordering us to turn over our horses, guns and neces
sary equipments to the 12th Battery, take their guns in ex
change, and hold ourselves in readiness to report at Chatta
nooga immediately.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Oct. 30. A very beautiful Sabbath
spent in the usual commonplace way. Grazed in the forenoon.
The afternoon occupied in writing to Brother John. Walked
to town in the evening. No mail or news, although trains are
passing in great numbers.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 31. Weather still continues
enchanting. All quiet. Expecting the 12th Battery down after
our horses. Invoices taken of ammunition, cannoneers and equip
ments, preparatory to being turned over. Mustered for pay at
12 M. Four months' wages now due us. We hope we will receive
it soon. In the evening a general discussion took place on the
"nigger question'*, politics, etc. All agree on ''Old Abe" for
president. Further than that we cannot go. I was in it on the
start and was getting earnest. When everybody began talking
together, I pulled in my teams and retired.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Nov. 1. In the forenoon we went
out grazing about two miles to a clover patch. In the afternoon
on detail for beef. 12th Battery took twenty-three of our best
horses and six sets of harness. They bring their guns down to
morrow. A large mail came to camp 4 P. M. I received five
good letters, doing me much good, one of them from my old
messmate Evie. He is now enjoying the sweets of private life
"ad libitum". The forage train that started out yesterday
morning not heard from yet. Fears entertained of their safety.
Three of our wagons with it.

[265]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Nov. 2. A very severe night.
Rained and stormed continually. The day not much better.
Should have stayed in doors, if I was not on guard, which is
not at all pleasant. Lieutenant Simpson and boys returned from
Nashville, failed to obtain any horses. Had a rather hard trip
throughout. Nothing new. Much speculation as to our destina
tion.

9 P. M. the forage trains came in, and all rumors as to being
captured a canard. Ordnance taken off, much of it.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Nov. 3. Another very cold raw,
day. 12th Battery took six more horses. Lieutenant Jenawein
detailed on duty with the 12th Battery. Boxes made to pack
up the harness.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Nov. 4. Sergeant Sweet returned to
the Battery this morning and resumed his duties as orderly.
Weather continues very cold and disagreeable. All we can do
is to keep warm. All the loose stores belonging to the Company
boxed up to-day. The remainder of the Division is making
preparations for a severe campaign, only two wagons to a regi
ment. We may be lucky in being counted out after all. It is
expected that the columns will move through the Confederacy
and emerge on the other side, and rest on the Atlantic coast.
I would like to be with them. The sights and satisfaction would
amply repay the fatigue and hardships.

Etowah Bridge, Saturday, Nov. 5. A pleasant day once more.
Camp somewhat astir this morning from the fact that Lieutenant
Simpson read dispatch from Stolbrand last night directing him
to go to Marietta and draw horses if possible to enable us to
take the field, but it was again countermanded before any harm
was done. He went to Allatoona in the afternoon to inspect
their guns. Trains pass in plenty but no mail. Infantry turn
over all their wagons but one to-day. Drew rations for those in
hospital. It is to be broken up.

[ 266 ]

1864] A VOTE FOR LINCOLN

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Nov. 6. Cold, disagreeable and
rainy. Ordered to prepare for inspection, but were visited by
the paymaster before it came off, a welcome visitor too. Paid
us for July and August. Tickets were circulated this after
noon for the election next Tuesday, none for Iowa County. I
wrote off such, and wrote a letter to John.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Nov. 7. A fine day. Health good.
Received letter from home. On duty in the afternoon. No
news. Trains passing in great numbers, taking stores to the
front. Artillery and wagons, etc. to the rear. Walked to town
in the evening. Met Mother Bickerdyke on the hospital train
going North after supplies. Shook hands with her and had a
motherly chat. Noble soul. Thy memory will remain bright
when that of traitors and rebels lies mouldering in oblivion.
Thy smiling face is a* cordial to the lonely soldier, better to the
aching heart than money or medicine.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Nov. 8. To-day is the day granted
Americans to exercise their highest rights as members of a re
publican government, the right of suffrage, each man having a
voice in the choice of his ruler. And thanks to the just laws
of "Wisconsin, this right is not withheld from us while far away
from home battling for the right. And the issue is understood
in all its momentous importance. Shall this Union be pre
served, the war prosecuted to a successful end, with honest
Abraham at our head, or shall we resign our object after such
a sacrifice already offered to the faction that seek to place Mc-
Clellan in office. After duly qualifying the judges, Lieuten
ants Simpson and Jenawein and 1st Sergeant Sweet, and clerks
G. Dalrymple and Q. M. Sergeant Sweet, the polls were opened
at 9 A. M. and voting was soon over with. I cast my first bal
lot, a straight through Union ticket. I am seven days too
young, but I voted with a clear conscience, thinking I had
earned my right. 2 P. M. the polls were pi™»«<l and votes

^267]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

counted, giving the glorious result of seventy-five for Lincoln
with "nary one" for "little Mac". This made me feel proud
of the command to which I belong. It shows the true prin
ciples. On guard. Weather raining. 14th Army Corps marched
in from Kingston. Camped 2 P. M. to allow the men a chance
to vote.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Nov. 9. Misty and damp night.
Caught a bad cold on guard. 12th Battery took guns to town
this morning, leaving them there for us, and took ours off in
exchange. All our harness is boxed up. The infantry have
struck tents, turned them over and expect to start on the mor
row. 14th Corps lay quiet all day. Trains are being loaded
with camp and garrison equipage, contrabands and refugees.
From all appearances this line is to be abandoned, and Sher
man is about to strike a telling blow upon the Confederacy.
My knapsack is packed and I await orders.

Watching Hood

Enroute, Thursday, Nov. 10. A bright and beautiful day.
On detail after rations in the morning. Cartersville present
ing a very busy appearance, filled with teams. Our troops
turning camp and garrison equipage over to be sent. Refugees
of every age, color and description are on every corner. Now
that a general abandonment of the line is apprehended all are
anxious to avoid further misery in the Confederacy. Returned
to camp to eat a hearty dinner, and then broke camp and went
to town. Did not get loaded till 9 P. M. Everything put up
in the smallest space. After we had filled our corner, several
families of negroes and refugees stowed themselves away.
Horses sent by land in charge of Sergeant Keeler.

Chattanooga, Friday, Nov. 11. Spent the night in broken
slumbers stowed away in the smallest imaginable space under

[ 268 ]

1864] A BUSY WAR TOWN

a caisson, very cold. Daylight found us near Dalton. Stopped
an hour to await trains. Several more families of refugees
stowed their baggage away under our carriages. Boys procured
whiskey on Simpson's order, several becoming gloriously tight.
11 A. M, ran into another train, throwing one car off the tracks
and frightening several women. Lots of the boys jumped off,
slightly injured, but not seriously. The road along here has
evidences of Hood's depredations, for miles bent rails, etc.

2 P. M. we entered the ''Hawk's Nest", Chattanooga, busy
as ever. Mule teams and refugees so thick we could hardly
move. Here we stopped, having no orders to go farther. Simp
son telegraphed to Major Stolbrand. Had we the orders* we
would have gone to Nashville 5 P. M. but as it was we must lay
over. Met four recruits at Ringgold, took them along. Two
of them brothers to our 1st Sergeant and Quartermaster, four
of them together now.

Whiteside, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 12. Another night spent
in our narrow bed, but slept comfortable. Staid in town till
1 P. M. Strolled over the town which showed evidence on
every side of the great scale upon which this war is conducted.
A wagon bridge has been built across the Tennessee here, near
where we were hid from Bragg about a year ago, a beautiful
and expensive piece of mechanism.

D. J. D. and myself visited our old teacher, Professor, now
Lieutenant Silsby. Found him looking well and on duty as
officer of the day. His regimentals became him well. He re
ceived us cordially, but we could not stay long. Ah, what dif
ferent circumstances did we now meet, to those which existed
three years ago. The book and slate are laid aside, and alas!
almost forgotten, the bugle and sabre followed instead.

One o'clock we started on a heavily-loaded train, four more
following. Rounded the august point of Lookout in great haste,
when we had about ten miles of up-grade. Our engine was
too weak for the load, often like an overloaded team refused to

[269]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

try and stopped still, most of the time going no faster than
we would go afoot. Reached Whiteside 4 P. M. where we had
to lie over till morning, a train ahead of us having run off the
track on the bridge over Running Waters, one hundred thirty
feet high. A passenger car and hospital car were saved as by a
miracle from going over into the abyss. The sight of a car
loaded with men and women leaning over the terrible gulf was
terrible. Working train sent for from Chattanooga to repair
damages. Whiteside was a small station in a mountain gorge,
garrisoned by the sturdy Scandinavians of the 15th Wisconsin.
Two companies of them being stationed in a block house on top
of the highest peak to be seen. They occupy a decidedly airy
situation. Suffered considerably from the cold.

En route, Sunday, Nov. 13. Griff and I made our bed in the
open air, and slept as of old while on the march, warm and
cozy though our blankets in the morning were stiff with frost.
Had to wait till noon for the wreckers to get the track in re
pair, when we started on our way rejoicing, as it was very cold.
Passed through Bridgeport without stopping. Waited at Ste
venson thirty minutes, when we took the Nashville Railroad,
112 miles long. This route being new to me, consequently more
interesting. The first thirty miles was through a low swampy
country with but few traces of civilization. A few station
houses, lightly garrisoned, until we neared the Cumberland
Range, which we had to cross. Here on a sidetrack we found
small coal-burning engines ready to help us over, small driving
wheels but capable of great power. Coupled on behind us with
vigorous puffs and dense clouds of coal smoke. It propelled us
up a grade of two hundred feet to a mile, through cuts in the
solid rock fifty feet high, now running along a narrow shelf
hewed in the side of an ancient slope with & deep canon below
us and the eternal rocks above us. Finally we entered the tun
nel, three-fourths of a mile long, drilled in solid rock. Three
ventilating shafts run down from above. We could see noth-

[270]

1864] STRINGENT ORDERS

ing, the hot smoky air tending to warm our chilled systems.
Daylight found us on the west side of the mountain, having
passed over one of the greatest pieces of internal improvement
I have ever seen, North or South. Darkness was fast approach
ing, and we once more crawled into our den to seek rest and
warmth in broken slumbers, regretting that it was not yet day
light so I could see the remainder of the line which was
wrenched from traitors' hands by the gallant Rosecrans.

Nashville, Term., Monday, Nov. 14. Morning found us on a
sidetrack in Nashville, which we reached 4 A. M. Most of the
boys were soon off in town, and as every one's pockets were
well filled, the morning was spent feeding at saloons, restau
rants, etc., too many indulging too freely in the debasing cup.
As we expected to unload soon, I did not leave till after dinner,
when I with Griff strolled through town, seeing sights. Nash
ville is a busy business mart. Mounted the dome of the state
capitol. The scene from it is most picturesque, nearly three
hundred feet above the silverlike Cumberland, which winds
nearly around the city. This is spread over a large tract of
ground, five miles long from north to south.

4 P. M. We were drawn up to a platform and by night we
were unloaded. Made our beds down as best we could, and re
tired neath a frowning sky which I fear will drench us before
morning.

Nashville, Tuesday, Nov. 15. It was not yet midnight when
the rains fell, and the winds blew. By 2 A. M. I was thor
oughly soaked so I had to get up and the police admitted us
into the depot. Read from Scott's Ivanhoe till morning by
gaslight, rain still falling in torrents. After breakfast six post
teams came to take us to camp, Cogswell's horses to take our
battery. About noon we were left in an open field on a pretty
knoll two miles west of town, with instructions not to touch
board, rail or tree under penalty of court-martial. Here we

[271]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

were this cold morning in a muddy field with, nothing to strike
a light or hardly stake a tent. This was decidedly tough for
"old sogers" who had been used to draw comfort from blaz
ing rail heaps in times like this. But they say it is loyal Ten
nessee, and property must be respected. Very well. But they
should provide something for our comfort, if we are privates.
We stretched our tents, got a cold grub, no fire to cook coffee.
Late in the evening Sergeant Malish came with two loads of
cord wood. We drew it at the rate of 1/6 cord to a man per
month.

Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 16. Slept warm in our wedge
tents. One of the batteries that camped here, gone up the
Cumberland River with two weeks' rations to get out lumber
for quarters. We would have gone had we had a commissioned
officer to take charge of us. On detail this morning. Carried
a load of halters to town to draw mules but the "something''
failed as usual, and I had to carry back my load. Found mail
in camp, a goodly share for me which added greatly to my
cOmfort. Tried to write a hastily written letter home, but my
fingers were cold and stiff. Drew soft bread.

Nashville, Thursday, Nov. 17. Another cold, wet day. On
guard. Rain fell incessantly. My shoes being bad, feet wet
all day. Sergeant Keeler and boys that were left to bring
horses up arrived. Turned over the plugs at Chattanooga.
- left the Battery at Whiteside. Went on to Huntsville to
visit his friends there. Returned and was immediately put
under arrest. Will probably be court-martialed. Batteries
were still being brought up, some 165 batteries camped here
belonging to the Army of Tennessee. Major Powell in charge.
Detail out this afternoon staking out the ground to align the
batteries.

Nashville, Friday, Nov. 18. Lay abed this morning as long
as possible. Last night was a miserable night to stand guard.

[272]

1864] UNNECESSARY HARDSHIPS

Cold rain fell very heavily all the time I was out, feet per
fectly wet, in consequence of which I caught a large amount of
cold. Settled in my head in the shape of catarrh. To-day was
not an exception to the general rule, so of course it rained in
doors as well as out, mud unfathomable on all sides, and we
spent the day in the most comical manner. Cheerfulness like
a bright angel, made us forget the disagreeable, and we sung
(or rather bawled), read, talked, laughed and scuffled by turns
with an occasional recess "to rake shoulder straps" in general.
And I don't think it is misplaced. Here we are in Nashville
where an abundance of everthing is to be had. Thousands of
feet of government lumber lying in the pile, thousands more of
employees at work daily in getting out more, besides hundreds
of vacant houses crumbling to ruin un tenanted and unowned,
which we would soon be able to convert into comfortable quarters.
But no, the officers will not permit it, and here we are left to
the inclemencies of the wet season, on the wet ground, wood to
warm our chilled limbs even refused us. I trust that my
patriotism is now as bright as ever, and I am willing and ready
to undergo any hardships for the sake of my bleeding and torn
country, but this is unnecessary and too much. They (the officers)
are cozily quartered with some private family, toast their feet
and drink their wines without ever a thought of us, who are
engaged in a common cause with them. The world will do hom
age to them, the future historian may paint in glowing pictures
their career, but the private soldier that bears uncomplainingly
these abuses, and seeks naught but to do his duty, deserves as
rich a reward; aye, and the God of Justice will reward each
according to his merit.
Received a mail which was duly appreciated.

Nashville, Saturday, Nov. 19. I have no change to record in
weather or otherwise. In the afternoon the guns were moved
by the adjutant of the Brigade into proper intervals, bringing

18 [ 273 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

ours into a low, muddy ravine. Our quarters will have to go
in the rear, but we await a pleasant day.

Nashville, Sunday, Nov. 20. Happy to inform you, dear Jour
nal, that it did not rain a great deal to-day, but no ray of sun
shine appeared to warm our tents or dry our clothes. The
Major seems to be very partial to us, for yesterday he called for
a detail to put up headquarters tents. To-day again he has fif
teen men hauling stone, etc. to build chimneys. I wish he would
like some other Battery as well. In the evening a few scarlet
tints could be seen on the western horizon, and our prophets
predict a pleasant day to-rnorrow. I sincerely hope it will be
so. Received a few papers by mail, no letters.

Nashville, Monday, Nov. 21. This morning was bright and
clear, but sunshine still forbidden us. Griff, G. M. S. and my
self, wishing to make a few purchases, obtained permission to go
to town. Griff and I sat for photo pictures, and sent them to
Beniczky, New York, for photos.

Commenced snowing 10 A. M. but the wind blew it all away.
Kept growing colder and colder. Returned to camp 2 P. M.
Found the boys in a shivering condition. Managed to keep
comfortable by means of an iron skillet filled with coals. Banked
our tent up as close as possible, and prepared for a severe night.
Captain Hood arrived and takes command of the Battery. His
presence is unnoticed.

Nashville, Tuesday, Nov. 22. Last night was a very severe
night. Many suffered severely from cold. We slept tolerably
warm with the exception of feet. Ground is all hard. "Water
frozen four inches thick. The day passed, such a day as that
which makes people draw close around the family stove, in the
warm rooms of our houses. 'Tis not strange then that every
means of warmth was resorted to. Many a fellow lay wrapped
up in his blankets all day, while we were huddled around our
skillet of coals, replenished as often as practicable from the few

[274]

1864J FEEDING AN ARMY

heaps of fire out doors (the wood being very scarce). Dan on
guard. Clothing arrived. I drew a pair of boots. Boys went
strong on overcoats. I would draw one if there was one to be
had. Many of them bought sheet iron stoves in town, paying
from six to ten dollars. We must get one to-morrow if possible.
Strict orders issued to us from Major * * headed Camp

Barry. None allowed to go to town without his pass. Four
roll calls a day.

Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 23. Some warmer to-day and
groups could be seen about noon sunning themselves outside,
Dan and Griff went to town early, and returned with a small
sheet iron stove, about the size of an inverted camp kettle, $5.00
worth. But it is a prodigy of comfort. In ten minutes we had
it blazing and the tent so warm as to be uncomfortable. About
dusk a cedar rail mysteriously found its way into our tent, and
was speedily converted into wood, nobody knows how, of course,

Nashville, Thursday, Nov. 24. A still cold night, froze very
hard this morning. I think it is ten degrees below zero. Boys
skating on ponds, like old times. Detailed early to go after
beef. Had to go and obtain post team, then to the slaughter
yard located on the Cumberland River. When we reached it
we found there was a string of wagons twenty rods long ahead
of us, and we had to wait our turn, which did not come before
3 P. M. and we had a good chance to see the magnitude of the
work carried on here daily. About one hundred eighty two-
butchers at work all the time, fifty-four beeves killed before
12 M. An animal would be knocked down and nearly skinned
before he was dead, it being weighed out as fast as killed. One
hundred thousand rations issued by the government daily.
Beached camp in time to eat a good supper and to find no mail
for me.

An opportunity offered Griff and me to attend the theatre
where the celebrated Alice Kingsbury (Maggie Mitchell) played

T2751

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1864

the part of "Cricket" in the drama called Fanchon. To me
it was higly interesting to observe how near art could approach
nature. Stage scenery was almost life-like, the grassy woods,
shady woodland and bubbling brook, all seemed more real than
I could believe possible. As for Alice, she was the principal
actress for three hours, and well did she play her part as a
poor befriended orphan and an accomplished lady. Anger, sor
row and love depicted with great truthfulness.

Nashville, Friday, Nov. 25. A very nice day. On guard
once more. Battery C, 1st Missouri, struck their tents right in
front of ours this afternoon. We cannot move camp to its prop
er place, because there are other batteries in the way. Was
happy to meet Knapp and Burnham, once worthy members of
the old 6th, in camp direct from Wisconsin. They came to
work for the government. The greeting was like meeting fam
ily relatives.

Nashville, Saturday, Nov. 26. Ah ! it rains again. Continued
to do so nearly all day, but by means of our stove and good
cheer we passed the day very pleasantly, writing and reading.
3 P. M. mail arrived. None for me. Milton received notice
that his folks at home had sent him a Thanksgiving dinner per
express. He obtained permission to go to town, and see if it
had arrived. I went along. Roads very muddy, but we found
it not. To-night a certain number of cedar rails found their
way into our stove very mysteriously. Of course it was honest.

Nashville, Sunday, Nov. 27. Very wet but did not rain much.
Griff, Milt and myself went to church, not acquainted with any
one. Curiosity led us into the Catholic Church, it being the
first time I was ever in such, and the mode of worshipping struck
me very forcibly.

Eeturned to camp to find tent struck and moved behind the
guns. Worked in the evening, the remainder of the Sabbath
day, ditching camp, etc. By night we were in shape, and camp

[276]

1864] AWAITING HOOD

is in very pretty shape, each platoon in line, sections facing, but
the ground is very low for wet weather. What a vast difference
between this, and the Sunday they have spent at home. Are
we, the privates, held accountable for this disregard for the holy
Sabbath day?

Nashville, Monday, Nov. 28. A pleasant day. Company
turned out this morning. Carried down the army's boxes and
wood to our new camp. Hard work, but it dispensed with three
guards. Wrote letter in the afternoon and commenced reading
Jane Eyre. A beautiful silk flag was to be hoisted in our camp
that we have bought by subscription for $75.00. May its folds
ever wave over us in victory. Hood with 30,000 rebels reported
moving on this place, and Thomas is below him. Gen. A. J.
Smith is in town. His command, 16th Army Corps, is arriving
from Missouri.

Nashville, Tuesday, Nov. 29. An unpleasant day. Camp
very quiet, the usual number going to town on their passes.
Camp policed and looks nice. Detail gone out to fix up camp
of the 10th Ohio. This is a good omen, as their men will likely
bring us lumber to pay for it. Captain Hood was mustered this
morning, now is in command of Battery, with straps on. Read
all the forenoon and wrote to sister Ellen. Mail came in and
I received one from Jane, E. C., and John; papers from T. L.
What kind of a being would I be were it not for these heavenly
messengers from home. It is they that give courage in danger,
cheerfulness in camp, and happy dreams which I expect to-night.

Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 30. 8 A. M. In position await
ing Hood. Unexpectedly were ordered last night at 7 P. M. to
pack up blankets and knapsacks, ready to move at a moment's
warning. Playfully did we proceed to obey, thinking we would
not move, only a "scare as usual". But immediately we were
ordered to strike tents and a host of mules with their dusky
drivers came, and we thought it was big enough to move us this

[277]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [i864

time. The other batteries were under similar orders. The long-
eared animals were fastened on. Our tents and "dear little
stoves " were piled up, and with but little delay we pulled up
and started toward town, the first battery out of Camp Barry.

Marched through town via muddy streets and dark alleys, till
finally we halted about a mile and a half north of town facing
northwest with a wide open plain before us, having come about
five miles. Here we came into line and our uncouth transpor
tation left us. It was 11 P. M. when we laid down 'neath a
placid and beautiful, starry sky. The jests and laughs went
round for some time before the hilarious spirits were overcome
by sleepiness.

This morning we arose to find four more batteries in position
and everything quiet. Aligned our guns forming an obtuse
angle, facing the northwest. Two of the batteries have gone
to camp. We have had our breakfast. Long strings of citizens,
government employees, etc. are winding their way to the front
with shovel, pick and wheelbarrow, to throw up earthworks
about half a mile in our front. As yet we have but little ex
pectation of fighting but they may come, and it is best to be
ready. I am to act as No. 6 and I will try to do my duty as
well as possible.

Twilight. The day has gone by quietly, no sound or sight of
battle yet. Some thirty transports have arrived from Padueah
loaded with General Smith's veterans, amongst them the glorious
8th and 10th Wisconsin. The unanimous desire of all is that
they come and give us fight. We are posted on the middle
reserve line, and it is doubtful for us whether they could come
within our reach, were they to try it. The orders are to move
four rods to the right, sleep at our posts and be up at 4 A. M.
Corporals Kay and Hill with detachments out of our Battery-
man two guns of the 10th Ohio on our left. In spite of " war's
threatening aspect" we have had to-day a pleasing remembrance
of home in the shape of roast turkey and other goodies sent to
Milt, for Thanksgiving dinner.

[278]

1864] CAMP AT NIGHT

Fort Gillem, Tenn, Thursday, Dec. 1. After a refreshing
sleep in the open air of heaven, we were again awakened 4 A. M.
to wait and watch the batteries. The day is exceedingly hot,
more like September than December. We hear of a heavy battle
yesterday at Franklin, eighteen miles distant. Reports say,
that the enemy were severely punished, but the maneuvering here
seems to indicate preparations for fight. Night is again with
us after a day of inactivity. With the last rays of the setting
sun, a string of mules again came to move us, and we are
taken a half mile west, and left near Fort Gilleni in disorder.
Ordered to sleep as best we can in places of our own choice.

Fort Gillem, Friday, Dec. 2. Slept on boards inside the fort
last night, guns outside. A gentle rain fell in the after part
of the night, but not enough to penetrate our blankets. All our
camp and garrison equipage brought here during the night,
and pitched tents this morning. Luckily our stove was saved,
and it now gives us comfort. WTet and rainy all day. The fort
is garrisoned by 14th Ohio Battery and 10th Tennessee Infan
try, a splendid work.

We lay just outside yet. 10th Ohio Battery boys have come
back from river, thereby relieving us from their guns. We
know nothing definite of Hood and his forces. He is reported
to be moving on to Murfreesboro. He has- thought it best not
to try Nashville, after his signal defeat at Franklin on the 30th.
Our foes are fallen back and are now in line of battle about
three miles from town. Artillery firing has been distinctly
heard this afternoon. Mail received and "Good News from
Home"; all well.

After night I walked out and had a splendid view of our
camp in the dark, which is always to me a grand and sublime
sight. About a mile and a half from us the advance line string
from one hill to another as far as we can see on either side,
stretching from water to water, with their counties*? fires.
Would that I had the artist's skill to represent this scene with

[279]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

its seas of glittering starlike fires. And when I think of the
thousands of brave boys that gather around them, patiently
awaiting the foe, it becomes sacred to me and fills my soul with
reverence to the Supreme Being that holds our destiny in His
hands.

Fort Gillem, Saturday, Dec. 3. Our rest was unbroken. The
day was very wet and camp muddy. Still we await a general
engagement, and active preparations are taken to Deceive him,
[the enemy] . Every hour he delays renders his chances of suc
cess more uncertain. Strong forts are going up on every knoll
connected by rifle pits thrown up in genuine military order,
and all of the citizens are out at work. Government employees
arrive and drill daily. The rebel skirmish line is under Fort
Negley this afternoon and Hood's movements are still uncer
tain. A large force has gone up the Cumberland, and if they
don't look out, they will be in their rear.

This evening we could see artillery smoke on the left about
sundown. Fort Gillem has been worked at all day and is fast
approaching completion. Every platform is ready, room for
thirteen guns, only six guns in now, but seven outside. Captain
Hood is in command of the fort.

And now I cannot close to-day's record without a word of the
disgusting influence around us. Our camp is right by a liquor
saloon, which is sold indiscriminately. Nearly all of a neigh
boring regiment are beastly drunk, and with their unearthly
yells and maniac demonstrations are making the air hideous.
Our own Battery also presents a sad sight. Last night - - was
helplessly drunk. To-day our - — . Both good officers when
temptation is removed. Oh, why will not our officers put a stop
to this demoralization, but on the contrary, a guard is furnished
this den of the devil to protect it in its wicked work.

Fort Gillem, Sunday, Dec. 4. It is now 9 A. M. Have had
a restless night of it. Scarcely had we closed our eyes to sleep,

[ 2801

1864] NIGHT FIRING

ere we were aroused by the orderly, "pack up and get ready
to march immediately". Thirty-five men under Lieutenant
Simpson going to move some guns somewhere. First Section
eut as soon as possible. We start under Sergeant Malish with
eur blankets and haversacks, leaving Sergeant James to come
after us with knapsacks and tents. After marching on almost
double quick for nearly two hours not knowing exactly where
we went, we arrived at a half-finished bastion on the second
line near our original camp. Lieutenant Simpson was there,
but the guns had not arrived. Three of the boys unable to
keep up with us were yet behind, and of course knew not where
to find us. Men were appointed to pilot them hither, and the
rest laid down at 11 P. M. Had not gotten asleep before we
were again called out to unload forty-eight boxes of ammuni
tion and get our knapsacks, the wagons having come. It was
now midnight and we saw the flash of artillery firing, followed
by the subdued report very frequently. Once more we took
our boots off (ordered not to take any more off) and slept.

A very little before this, guns arrived, five twelve-pounders,
five arsenals, three to stay here, two to go with Sergeant James
a quarter of a mile to the right. Rolled up blankets, slung
knapsacks, and started with him. It was dark and chilly, aris
ing suddenly from sleep had chilled me through and I shivered
terribly. Still frequent reports of cannon could be heard, but
we hardly noticed that. Half past 2 A. M. we again had our
blankets unrolled and slept. Half past four, as near as we could
guess, I was aroused to take my turn on guard, one hour apiece.
Cedar rails were abundant and were used without compunction.
I kept very comfortable, meditating on the now dimly flickering
camp fires, almost ghastly.

While on post I heard the reveille sounded in an adjoining
camp. Men hastily hurried out, officers running to and fro,
and they start out on double quick, marching by our sleeping
boys. Nothing could be heard but the offcers, big and small,

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yelling out "Close up, close up, boys, double quick'', and such
hasty commands, I knew it was a new regiment. Yes, it was
the 142nd Indiana. They will get over that yet. Other old regi
ments followed, but they went still and iquietly. When I
guessed it was an hour I woke up the next turn, and for the
fourth time crawled close to my sleeping bedfellow. The morn
ing sun shone brightly when I again awoke, and I must be up,
but ah! how sleepy I felt. Griff has made some tea, and we
have had bread and butter for breakfast. Workmen are com
ing fast to throw up works for us. I have heard no firing yet.
We are but half a mile from Fort Gillem. We put up tents,
etc.

It is now bedtime. The day has passed wearily, watching
the employees grudgingly throw up their works for our guns.
Artillery firing has been kept up all day from Fort Negley. We
could not hear infantry firing. This is the second line being
made very strong, but the works are lined with cedar rails
which I don't like at all. It is apt to splinter if struck by ar
tillery.

Every moment of delay lessens Hood's chances of success.
This evening mail came in. I received two from brother and
sister. I am very sleepy and tired. I hope we will not be dis
turbed to-night.

Fort Gillem, Monday, Dec. 5. This forenoon a repetition of
yesterday. Surrounded by dissatisfied employees who are
working on our defenses. They are completed, seven feet high
and eight feet thick on top. When settled will be proof against
field artillery. The usual amount of firing on our front, shell
ing working parties. They throw up works within five hun
dred yards of our line, but never dare to reply to our artillery.

2 P. M. a detachment of the 1st Missouri Artillery relieved
us, and we returned to our old camp. Guns are all in the
fort. Very pleasant weather. Health is good. The only
trouble is we eat up our rations faster than they come.

[282]

1864] A MORAL PROBLEM

Fort Gillem, Tuesday, Dec. 6. A pleasant day. Nothing
startling. Artillery firing and skirmishing as usual. Some of
our boys have been to the post line, report the enemy still
throwing up works for artillery and infantry. Camp is full of
wild rumors about Forrest's venture against Nashville, but it
is not reliable. Trains arrived from the North as usual. Wrote
to Hannah this afternoon. Captain Hood has received orders
to draw horses. This indicates work ahead of us.

Fort Gillem, Wednesday, Dec. 7. Gunboats fired very briskly
last night for a while. Washed my clothes this morning. 11
A. M. ordered to prepare to go after horses, eleven men from
each platoon to draw eighty-four horses. But we could get
only forty-five, being all there were, most of them very good
ones. I rode a young colt to camp. Others will take care of
them. Happily I am no driver now.

Having heard so much of the grand display of new scenery
in the new theatre, Griff obtained permission for us to attend.
Arrived there before the doors were open. The rush was very
great, the street crowded clear across. When the doors opened
I was borne on other legs than my own up two flights of stairs.
Still the rush carried me on into the gallery which was soon
filled to overflowing. Many failed to get admittance. Here
we had to wait half an hour for the curtains to rise, which were
filled by the most boisterous and rude demonstrations. I did
not like it. But when the curtains arose all was silent. The
play was the Naiad Queen, or Fairies under the Rhine, a mean
ingless piece, but the most brilliant and beautiful scenes I have
ever seen. Dark grottos with their rocks and caverns inhab
ited by beautiful fairy-like creatures. Thunder and snaky
lightning was wonderfully depicted. Water with boats gliding
back and forth, by means of glass. Scenery was truly beauti
ful. Then came an army of Amazons. The best scene repre
sented the region of bliss, with hollows and fountains, on which
was thrown a dazzling light. This is the third time I have

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ever -visited such scenes. I came to judge for myself, is it right
or wrong? Although there are some things connected with
these that are exceptional and uiiadvisable, still I consider it
not only an innocent amusement, but instructive, much better
for the morals of the young than the saloons, clubs, meetings,
etc. Liquor and tobacco fumes are apt to be the chief claim.
The only danger is that in the theater will be spent time, which
ought to be spent elsewhere.

Fort Gillem, Thursday, Dec. 8. The weather that turned cold
last evening is growing colder and colder. It is all we can do
to keep warm. Clothing issued and I failed not to secure a
great coat and other comforts. Wrote to John. There has been
no firing of any consequence to-day. What does it mean, is
asked by all. Is the weather too cold to fight, or is Hood gone ?
The latter seems to be the prevailing opinion in camp.

Port Gillem, Friday, Dec. 9. It was difficult work to sleep
warm last night, and we pitied the poor boys in the front
ditches last night without fire or tents, with a foe in front.

As soon as breakfast was over I was detailed to go with Cor
poral Goodwin after wood. It began sleeting as we started and
continued all day. We first went to the wood yard and found
that surrounded by more teams than could load all day. Sent
us a mile further to the boat landing where we found two
barges nearly empty of wood, and about fifty wagons waiting,
so we had to go home. I walked back through town, stopped
on business, and returned after dinner, quite stiff with sleet,
clothes all glazed with it. It is now snowing very fast. Wag
ons went out and brought in two loads of rails for fire wood.

J. Rogers returned to the Battery. He left us at Carters-
ville. All quiet on the lines. No mail. Health good.

Fort Gillem, Saturday, Dec. 10. Froze very hard last night
Two inches of crust on the ground, very slippery and the air is
very cold. On guard. Post No. 1 in the front. Ration day.

[284]

1864] THE NASHVILLE FREEZE

We only drew %. Things are very short here to-day. We have
to buy a great deal. Many of the boys are out of money too.
No demonstrations on the line as we know of. Perhaps it is too
cold for the boys to fight as they have enough to do to keep
warm.

Fort Gillem, Sunday, Dec. 11. To-day was a terrible re
minder of old Wisconsin to us. Last night was the coldest
night I ever stood on guard. Did not suffer much though on
post. Kept up a rapid motion. I could not sleep much, tent
too cold, having to sleep on the ground. The day was no
warmer. All hands lay close inside with roaring fires in the
stoves. Detail sent out this afternoon after more horses. Re
turned with thirty-nine. We have now eighty-four, all we need,
and may expect marching orders next. Evening spent cheer
fully reading, with cedar wood plenty in stove. It is freezing
very hard out of doors.

Fort Gillem, Monday, Dec. 12. By laying up snug we kept
warm last night. This morning the sun came out, and thawed
a very little during the day. As notified last night, Griff and
I were of the ten to go after wood with Sergeant Dziewanowski.
Ate an early breakfast and started out. Reported to Powell's
headquarters. He sent us to a piece of wood on Hillsboro Pike,
which was once the woodland park of some church, now to be
cut down by the artillery. Permission granted by General
Thomas. I am not a big chopper, but I chopped "big" for a
while. Teams took one load to camp and came back for the
others. Returned 2 P. M. Beans and coffee disposed of by
appreciative appetites.

All the pikes leading to the front are filled with cavalry, ap
parently waiting for the cloak of darkness to hide their deeds.
We hear of a big fight at Murfreesboro. Rosecrans captured
6,000 prisoners, and is in their rear eight miles from here. Our
troops on the front line are under marching orders. Two days'

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rations in haversacks, I think. The time is near at hand when
Hood will be beautifully, though terribly thrashed for his in
solence in thus invading Tennessee, at least I hope so. We are
in anticipation of moving too. The "fates" may miss us this
time.

Fort Gilleni, Tuesday, Dec. 13. On guard. The icy frost
that encased everything has been wholly removed, and we can
now move around without "slipping up". But it is getting
very wet and muddy. Our horses are having a bad time of it.
They all grow poor fast without stables. Firing on the picket
line is once more heard, at times very briskly. Fort Negley
indulged in a few shots this evening. The cavalry have gone
into camp inside the line, three divisions of them.

A big mail arrived 4 P. M., the first in five days. I received
one from home. It brought commissions to Alba and S. Sweet
as second lieutenants in 6th Battery, merited promotion — and
ratified by all the boys who will now have two temperate offi
cers at least.

Fort Gillem, Wednesday, Dec. 14. Reveille sounded this
morning at 4 A. M. and at daylight the whole Company was
marched off on detail except guards. I was on post. They
went to unload shakes and poles for stable from a barge. They
worked hard all day without any dinner. Returned to eat a
hearty supper. Weather very foggy and misty all day. The
mud is unfathomable and camp is very disagreeable. It was
expected that a general engagement would come off to-day, but
Thomas is waiting for more favorable weather, it is reported,
to move artillery. Considerable firing from forts. Consider
able curiosity manifested as to who will be appointed in the
vacancy caused by the promotion of the Sweet boys.

Fort Gillem, Thursday, Dec. 15. Much dissatisfaction was

expressed this morning by the Company when entered upon

the duties of orderly sergeant. This is doing great injustice to

[286]

186-ij FIGHTING WITH CONFIDENCE

the other sergeants that were his superior in rank, and any of
them better qualified, and would receive more respect from the
boys, none of whom like - — . The privates of the volunteer
army are men of judgment, and will use it in spite of red tape
and military discipline. Would it not be much wiser then, to
allow them to have a voice in choosing their officers? Certainly
they would be easier controlled. First Sergeant Malish is quar
termaster sergeant.

The day has been warm and mild but the mud not much im
proved. 14th Ohio Battery that were with us here marched
at 4 A. M. As expected, heavy fighting has taken place to-day.
Only artillery firing and skirmishing in the forenoon, but af
ter dinner the heavy throbs of musketry mingled with the in
cessant roar of artillery. All the fighting has taken place on
our left, near Forts Negley and Sigel about four miles off. And
we laid around carelessly while our ears were filled with the
terrible death notes of battle. So many times have we listened
to it that they have almost ceased to quicken our pulse or
awaken serious or earnest thoughts of the hundreds that are
swept into eternity, at least of the many hearts that will bleed
when the news of this battle reaches them, of the terrible suf
fering from ghastly wounds and bleeding limbs caused by it.
Oh I cannot forget that war is terrible, and I cannot keep my
mind from these saddening thoughts while these stern sounds
fall upon my ear. Of the result we know nothing, but all ac
cept success as the inevitable result. Before to-morrow morn
ing we may be in the fight.

Fort Gillem, Friday, Dec. 16. Warm and wet night. Mud
still increasing, but the battle progressed. Firing commenced
at early dawn, and has continued with unabated fury till after
dark. We lay quiet and undisturbed. There are nearly enough
troops to hold Nashville against Hood's assault left unemployed
around the reserve line. Twenty new regiments. It is the com
mon opinion of all the Battery, that it has never listened to

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heavier and steadier artillery firing for so long a time. Once
in a while the crash of musketry would be louder even than
the artillery, and I could but shudder at the thought of how
many must be falling in the charge, for they undoubtedly are.
Fighting continues to recede. It seemed six miles off last night
at sundown, but we have not heard anything definite. In the
midst of this noise of the conflict I wrote to John. Detail of
twenty men sent through the mud to Major's headquarters this
afternoon and marched back again.

Fort Gillem, Saturday, Dec. 17. Rained terribly last night.
The torrents filled our ditches and swept through the tent, un
der — or rather over — our bed, making it decidedly wet. Got
tip, ate hard-tack, and then laid down and slept, and took ''wet
sheet pack" bath at once. Griff on guard last night in the fort.
Induced the infantry guard to let him carry off lumber enough
for bunk under cover of the night, so we need not fear of wet
bed any more. All is quiet this morning. The storm is over
amd the papers tell us of the glorious whipping which Hood re
ceived. Fifteen thousand prisoners and 30 cannon the work of
yesterday. To-day he is flying demoralized. No excitement
manifested over the news because it is only as everyone ex
pected.

All the men that could be spared this morning marched un
der Captain Hood near Camp Barry and set to work digging
post-holes for stables. David Evans and I were given axes and
we "butted" poles all the forenoon. Chopped hard, and I was
tired by dinner time. Did not go back after dinner. It is
mud! muddier! muddiest!

[288]

1864] FREEING THE SLAVE

Wintering at Nashville

Fort Gillem, Sunday, Dec. 18. Rained all night last night,
very warm and oppressive. We lay in our new bunk, a decided
improvement on lying on the wet ground. Griff and I visited
a squad of 2,800 prisoners this morning, of which Nashville is
nearly full. They look as well as any I have ever seen, cloth
ing not as bad as I expected to see. Could not converse with
them for the guards. Our little boy with Unions sold out be
fore he reached us, so we have not the details of yesterday's
work. Our headquarters are at Franklin. They must be ske
daddling very fast. Moved the picket rope as our horses were
fast disappearing in the mud, which is beyond grammatical
comparison. This morning everybody is all mud from head to
foot. We eat it and drink it, and the air we breathe is muddy.

Fort Gillem, Monday, Dec. 19. Last night it rained very
heavily again and continued till noon to-day. So furiously did
it storm that it poured through our tent wetting everything.
Poor me on guard. Afternoon turned very cold and freezing;
it looked like snow. This is most disagreeable for camp life
such as ours. All day we must move with muddy feet where
at night most of the boys are obliged to spread their wet and
dirty blankets to sleep.

Last night we received a big mail from Wisconsin, It told
us of snow and ice, but there was the cheering fireside, warm
room and cozy bed, and I could but long for these comforts
once more.

I have been reading aloud the last evenings, Frances Kem-
ble's Journal on a Georgia Plantation. To-night I finished it.
How sickening and disgusting is the detail of this sin of slav
ery, and I thank God that a better day is dawning on the
poor wronged African. What are the trials of camp life com
pared with the great work we are engaged in. I can cheerfully

19 [ 289 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1864

bear all the discomforts of a soldier's life for the overthrow of
the monster evil.

. Fort Gillem, Tuesday, Dec. 20. Everything froze up hard
last night, and it was very cold. Suffered considerable on post.
Griff and I wished to go to town, volunteered to load rations
so as to go. Had to wait until late in the afternoon for our
team. Drew hard-tack and salt junk. Visited Sanitary Com
mission rooms, obtained a good supply of reading matter.
Bought stationery to write letters and returned to camp. It is
turning warmer, rains again.

The papers tell us of the triumphant arrival of our gallant
leader Sherman at the coast. Invests Savannah, and we expect
to join him sooner or later. Beside this glorious success the
utter defeat of his opponent and fellow raider, Hood, is insig
nificant. "The good time's coming." Eighteen teams out all
the afternoon moving batteries.

Fort Gillem, Wednesday, Dec. 21. More rain last night, cold
this morning. Griff attended to the domestic affairs, washed
our dirty clothes, etc. In the afternoon I wrote two letters.
Snowed and blustered considerable in the afternoon. Camp is
very quiet. The ennui of a soldier's life is very heavy these
disagreeable days, but we amuse ourselves by reading a great
deal aloud. Two thousand five hundred more prisoners brought
in to-day and coralled in jail yard.

Fort Gillem, Thursday,' Dec. 22. A cold night. This morn
ing everything frozen up hard and dry. Detailed to chop wood
this forenoon, cold for my ears and bare hands. All the rest
of the day staid close indoors.

Fort Gillem, Friday, Dec. 23. Clear and cold this morning.
On guard again. The detail comes around quite often now.
The privates' roll is decreasing as the officers' increases. Is
sued clothing. The topic is, are we included in the late order

[ 290 ]

ENTRY ix DIARY, DECEMBER 20, 1864

1864] HOPING TO JOIN SHERMAN

ordering all detachments belonging with Sherman to report im
mediately via New York? Would much like to take the trip,
but would rather wait a couple of months.

Fort Gillem, Saturday, Dec. 24. A pleasant night on guard
though rather cold. Thawed but little during the day. My
health still continues very good. Camp is all hilarity over the
good news from all quarters. It gives new hopes of the coming
dawn. Father Abraham has called for 300,000 more troops.
This is right, says the soldier. It shows no faltering or weak
ness of resolution on our part, while the Confederacy's bright
est lights are wringing their hands in anguish and despond
ency. But it makes me sad that it once more threatens to de
prive my loved parents of their solace and comfort. I pray
God that my dear brothers be spared to stay with them in their
old age.

It is Christmas Eve, and I am all alone. Dan and Milt have
gone to town. Griff is on guard. Nobody to interrupt my
quiet meditations, and I can but think of the many happy
hearts that now beat in my Northern home, of those surrounded
by friends and relatives and the influence of home. It is in
striking contrast with our situation here, where time glides by
so idly and it seems at times uselessly. I can hardly realize
that it is really Christmas time, so associated is winter with
snow and frozen ears and good times to me. It is hard to rec
ognize it in this mud and rain with bare, frozen ground
for days. But it is not always to be thus. I am as happy in
anticipation of hard-tack and salt junk for to-morrow's dinner,
as many that count on roast turkey and "fixings". And still
many at home are not happy. I can fancy the heavy cloud that
hangs over their hearts as they are anxiously awaiting the re
turn of us from the field. Yes, they think of us morn, noon, and
eve. May we be true to their memory and return with a clear
conscience, unsullied by the vices of camp.

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Fort Gillein, Sunday, Dec. 25. Christmas. A warm day,
misty and muddy. All is quiet. Health very good. 8 A. M.
had our regular Sunday morning inspection, after which Griff
and I attended church. Were there in time for Sabbath school,
went in and listened to the sweet melody "There is a Happy
Land", and "Homeward Bound", which sounded very sweetly
to my ear. Read the 2nd chapter of Matthew in concert, then
went above to listen to a sermon from the 13th and 14th verses
of the same chapter. The Calvanistic dogmas preached stronger
than I ever listened to from an American pulpit. Did not like
it at all.

Returned to feast on Irish potatoes, Uncle Sam's Christmas
dinner. Mail received. Brought us news of a dinner having
been started us from home. At night Griff and I attempted
to. while away the remaining hours by sundry attempts at sing
ing, but we retired early, and the third Christmas in the army
was gone.

Fort Gilleni, Monday, Dec. 26. On detail for wood. Went
out to our front line of works. Took the rails comprising the
walls of the works that were never needed.

Captain Hood and two of the boys with mule wagons went to
town early to look for the big box expected. We had just eaten
a dinner of coffee and hard-tack when they arrived, and lo !
the box, really a huge thing, was there, weighing nearly four
hundred pounds. About twenty of the Spring Green boys in
terested, but all were permitted to taste something "from
home". I received thirty Ibs. of baked chickens, pies, small
and big cakes made by Mary and Esther. Griff and D. also
received a lot. The sweetmeats were soon eaten and distributed
with little regard to health, and the chickens and nice rolls of
butter took the place of our dishes in ammunition boxes. Dishes
go under the bed. Such things are sweet to the soldier's un
accustomed palate, and rendered doubly so by the knowledge
that they came from home, from the loved ones that are so

[292]

1864] PRESENTS FOR THE BOYS

anxiously noting our career and awaiting our return. Would
that they at home could know the warm though rough thanks
bestowed upon the donors. May God bless their thoughtful-
ness.

Fort Gillem, Tuesday, Dec. 27. A pleasant day. On guard,
second relief. Detail off ditching new camp ground. Parker
and John Rogers gone to the hospital, both quite sick.

Glorious news from Sherman. He presents Savannah as a
Christmas gift to Old Abe, which reminds me of our Christmas
dinner, none the less appreciated because a day behind hand.
The hard-tack on which we have lived since the first of the
month laid to-day untouched, also the ''sow belly", as chicken,
cake and butter were the dishes. It is the theme of much "mu
sic'' in camp. Spring Green gets the praise. Sanitary [Com
mission], the next best thing to a box from home, gave us sev
eral onions apiece. May their labors be rewarded. Bridge
burned between here a'nd Louisville. No mail.

Nashville, Wednesday, Dec. 28. Struck tents 8 A. M. and
moved on the Harding Pike nearer town. I was left behind to
load the teams as they returned after camp equipage, boards,
etc. Guarded the new camp by 3 P. M. Was agreeably sur
prised to find them busy at work building quarters, raising
their tents. Shakes three feet long furnished to be nailed up
and down. I fell in too, and by night we had the tent stretched
on a neat wall three feet high. Was quite tired. Our horses
are stabled about a quarter of a mile off in government stables,,
making it very inconvenient for drivers. Griff over with them
on guard all day. Ordered to be ready for grand inspection by
Major Welker.

Nashville, Thursday, Dec. 29. Last night was bitter cold.
Most of us suffered severely, being but poorly fixed, but the sun
came out a little this morning, warming us a little. To-day has
presented another of those [scenes] that can nowhere be found

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outside the soldiers' camp, when everybody is busy acting as
his own carpenter, mason, cabinet maker. All have to meet
their own wants and busily have we all worked. We have got
our bunks up, one above the other. I went to town this after
noon after an additional length of pipe to reach through the
tent. Everybody is in good spirits over the good news. Ru
mors prevalent that we are soon to start for Sherman.

Nashville, Friday, Dec. 30. A warm, misty day, little rain.
Found time to-day to write a couple of letters. Mail came in
but none for me. Health of all is very good, though great dis
satisfaction prevails in regard to rations. Only a little over
half rations of hard-tack given us. They call it post rations,
not enough to satisfy the appetites of those who have been used
to live on fighting rations. "Anywhere but Nashville" is the
cry.

Nashville, Saturday, Dec. 31. Surprised to find the ground
covered with snow and very cold. Formed with overcoats on
at 9:30 A. M. for muster for pay. Hope we will get it soon.
Boys all very flat. "Busted". I commence a New Year with
a light heart and a lighter locker. On guard. Luckily on the
guns, so I did not have to go to the stables. So the last thing
I did in 1864 was to stand guard, and the first thing in 1865.
Trust it is not going to be so always.

Another year has rolled past and joined the many gone be
fore in the vistas of the past. Its glorious deeds of valor and
achievements, its scenes of anguish and bloodshed, of wrong and
oppression, are subjects for the future historian. Its ever
varying scenes and emotions are indelibly impressed upon my
mind, which death alone can efface. The snow has clothed the
earth in a lovely mantle of white as though to hide the sad
past, and offer a clear page for me in the coming year. Let
me then look forward with hope and determination to keep in
the path of virtue and right, striving to improve the blessings

[294]

1865] ON GUARD IN THE SNOW

and privileges offered me, so that when 1865 closes I need not
look back with regret at the year spent.

Nashville, Sunday, Jan. 1, 1865. New Year's morning dawned
bitter cold. I suffered terribly on guard last night. A heavy
impenetrable mist, such as I have nowhere seen except in Nash
ville, enveloped the earth till 9 A. M. freezing in icy down upon
everything. When I came off post I looked more like some
ghostly spectre in white than a soldier in blue. Rations very
short in camp, but we had a big New Year's dinner of soft
bread and butter, pies and Spring Green cake of Miss Spencer's
make. This evening I received a: letter from my faithful
brother John. He wrote in the midst of the festivities of a
Christmas visit.

Nashville, Monday, Jan. 2. Weather is growing warmer, the
snow melting and it is growing very muddy. All the talk is
about "going to Sherman". Preparatory orders are issued and
we expect to start within two weeks. Lieutenant Simpson left
us to-day, gone to artillery headquarters as ordnance officer.
He is a good officer but lacks energy. He goes with the best
wishes of the boys.

Nashville, Tuesday, Jan. 3. A quiet day. Weather much
warmer. Probabilities of going to Sherman lessening. Gen
eral Thomas has protested against our leaving. Put up harness
racks this afternoon. Big mail bringing me several .papers,
reading matter for the evening. Our new lieutenants mustered.
Corporals Goodwin and Proctor made sergeants to fill their
vacancies. T. C. Jackson and W. B. Jacobs, veterans, made
corporals. All worthy appointments.

Nashville, Wednesday, Jan. 4. A .very mild day. Camp is
getting muddy again. Chopping wood all the forenoon. Re
lieved this afternoon by an extra duty squad who failed to turn
out to roll call this morning. Estimated for clothing. Don't

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AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1865

know what the news is, got no money to buy a paper. A large
back mail received, having been to Savannah and back.
Amongst it I was very "tickled" to find my long-looked-for
socks and gloves, so nicely knit, with a billet in each bearing
the love of the maker. They make me truly warm by thinking
of whence they came.

Nashville, Thursday, Jan. 5. Froze a little last night. Very
muddy to-day. On guard, same old story in camp. Getting
monotonous. Received a letter from Thomas and from an old
Battery chum. Drew soft bread rations, a pleasant change.
Clothing issued. Captain Hood got a grand military problem
through his brain to-day by changing sergeants, placing rank
ing ones on the right of each section. Rather a fine addition
to army regulations I think. This took Sergeant James away
from us to 1st Platoon. Dan Goodwin takes his place. 2nd
Platoon hates to see him go. Our new "non-coms" appeared
in stripes.

Nashville, Friday, Jan. 6. Disagreeable and rainy nigbt. On
guard. Wet slushy day. Spent it pleasantly writing and read
ing Ballon' s Monthly, received from Sanitary Commission. A
little difficulty occurred in camp to-day. Quartermaster Malish
visited stables. Found B. Reynolds refusing duty as guard.
Ordered Dziewanowski, sergeant of the guard, to "tie him up"
which he refused to do. It was reported to Captain Hood and
ended in reducing "Coly" to the ranks, appointing Corporal
Hutchinson sergeant of the 3rd Platoon, Ed Hayes corporal.

Nashville, Saturday, Jan. 7. Turned cold last night. Snow
ed and blew wickedly. The day seemed very long to me. Did
hope to get a letter to-day, but was dissappointed. The theme
of discussion in camp is the reduction of "Coly". He was a
favorite of the boys, and as he lost his position by favoring one
of our number, we can but sympathize with him. He is an am
bitious young man, but got entangled in "red tape" and fell.

[296]

1865] SHAKING

This is the second reduction since I have been in the Battery,
more noticed because unfrequent. Health good. Ate our last
bit of butter for supper. We must now forget home luxuries
once more. The bread rations hold out well. So far so good.

Nashville, Sunday, Jan. 8. Froze very hard last night. In
spection 8 :30 A. M. As soon as Griff was relieved from guard,
9 A. M., we started to church by permission. Listened to a
very good sermon from a Christian Commission agent in M. E.
Church.

Reached camp 2 P. M. Nobody at home, and we spent a very
pensive afternoon, or at least I did. Many of our best men are
coming down with the diarrhea. Parker of the next tent was
very sick all day. Such things make me sad. But when the
mail came bringing me that ever encouraging sheet from John,
my spirits somewhat revived, and I found much to be thankful
for. My health is unimpaired. Why should I pine ? I will not.

Nashville, Monday, Jan. 9. Rain, rain! — all day without
cessation. Was on detail all the forenoon chopping wood. Got
quite wet and felt unwell. Symptoms of dumb ague.

Nashville, Tuesday, Jan. 10. On guard. Stood about sixty
rods from camp on a pile of shakes in a cold disagreeable rain,
the wind blowing furiously. I still feel very bad, unfit to stand
guard but will try to stand now that I have commenced it.

Nashville, Saturday, Jan. 14. Sickness has prevented me
from writing the last three days. Wednesday morning while
on post from 3 to 5 A. M. I was taken with violent chills and
ague, continuing nearly the two hours I was on. Every muscle
and sinew in me was wracked, while I stood in a driving wind
and freezing rain. Never did I suffer so much from "shaking"
but I did not call for relief till my time was up. It was with
difficulty that I staggered to my bunk where a furious fever
set in and raged very high. Wednesday, Thursday and Fri-

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day part of the time delirious, but I was the object of all the
care that could be bestowed on me under the circumstances,
Cousin Griffith filling as nearly as he could the place of mother
and sister. Last evening the fever left me. Bathed and felt
somewhat refreshed. Spent a very restless night, my whole
muscular system seemed charged with pain, but this morning
it eased off, and I find myself thickly covered with feverish
looking pimples. They say it is " fever rash." Doctor came
9 A. M., looked dubious about something, but left with the in
junction to "go slow".. About 10 A. M. I dressed and wrote
a short letter home. I feel very weak, but the pain has all
left me.

Nashville, Sunday, Jan. 15. Felt pretty smart this morning.
Up and ate quite a breakfast. The eruptions much larger, feel
a little sore. Doctor came to see me after dinner and has pro
nounced it a case of varioloid. Ordered us to keep the boys
all out of the tent, and my tent-mates to go and be vaccinated.
I was much surprised at the announcement, as I was not con
scious of ever being exposed, and even yet a little incredulous,
but if this is smallpox I can stand it. While I have been sick,
our nice lot of horses have been turned over, also all of the
harness, and it is said we are to draw muskets soon to do guard
duty in town.

Nashville, Monday, Jan. 16. In camp. I still feel pretty
well. My throat is very sore. Postules begin to fill and turn
white, guess it is smallpox. I am ordered to the smallpox hos
pital, and am now awaiting the ambulance. I must leave every
thing, as I could bring nothing away. I feel sorry to leave
the boys but would not stay to spread the contagion among
them. So, dear Journal, I must bid you good-bye until I re
turn. God grant that it may not be long. I anticipate but a
short siege, am astonished to find it so easy thus far. Adieu.

[ 298 ]

1865] IN HOSPITAL

Nashville, Monday, Feb. 6. Back in camp. Mr. Journal, I
have returned after just three weeks' absence and now hasten
to resume my story. As the sun was setting in the west the
ambulance came for me. Wrapped in a single blanket, I left
my old comrades while they were drawing muskets and making
a great noise over it. I was ushered into ward 7 with its long
row of low cots, most of them occupied by men with very sore
looking faces, but I had seen too many such to allow my heart
to sink. I was clothed in hospital clothes and tucked into bed,
where I lay for twelve days. In a few days the postules filled
up, raised very large and were very painful. As I lay every
inch of me seemed as though on fire. The doctor would come
(a kind-hearted man) and call it "a very pretty case", the
postules being very large and thick too. I suffered no internal
pain, but for a while the external agony was very great, and
I longed for a cool drink of water, but was denied it.

About the 23rd my face was swollen so as to completely close
my eyes and exclude the light of day for about twenty-four
hours, which with matter and heat, I feared, would affect them,
and in vain did I plead with the nurse to bathe them with a
little water, until the doctor came next morning, which was
a priceless relief. When they began to dry I recovered very
fast. By keeping strict discipline on my finger nails, I was
soon covered with scabs large enough for an alligator, and in
due time [they] shelled off in my bed. The weather now was
very cold and I suffered some in spite of half a dozen blankets.
No visitors were allowed, but Griffith (kind soul, can I ever
forget him) came often to the gate bringing my mail and writ
ten comments from himself, which I was permitted to answer.
By keeping a; lead pencil under ray pillow, wrote several letters
thus, home, contrary to orders, but I knew their anxiety.

Saturday, the 28th 3 P. M. the doctor pronounced me able to
get up and my clothes were brought to me. I was astonished
to find myself so weak. A few minutes after, two soldiers were

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announced at the gate with a message for me, and I staggered
out to see Griff and D. Evans, which did me much good, but I
had to return very soon. I gained now very fast, notwith
standing a bad cold. Monday, tent-mate Dan brought in with
same malady.

Tuesday, I was sent to convalescent ward to make room for
the influx. Over 500 patients in now. From 8 to 12 die daily.
I was put on guard first night, six hours at a stretch to guard
Rebs. Had the same every night. I began to get very lone
some soon. Had to fight terribly with the blues, much more
than when in bed, and to-day, in answer to urgent request and
Captain's application, Doctor let me off. Took a bath, a new
suit of clothes, and here I am. Feel quite weak, but happy to
be once more amongst my comrades. Hospital life is not the
life for me. Very grateful am I that I have recovered so well.
Will be marked considerably, but who cares for that?

Nashville, Tuesday, Feb. 7. The ground is covered with two
inches of snow and everything frozen hard, very cold. Feel
very well except a severe cold that has been on me for a; week.
Our boys are doing guard duty with muskets in town, that
they drew the day I left. Twelve men go to town every day.
They do it with ill grace. Half of them return to camp ere
their tour is half out.

Nashville, Wednesday, Feb. 8. Weather still continues cold.
Orderly asked me to-day if I was fit for duty. I told him I
was too weak for much duty, but would do all I could. Feel
quite bad to-night. Bones and head ache, could eat but little
supper. Wrote several letters.

Nashville, Thursday, Feb. 9. No warmer; feel no better.
Received a letter from the Valley with the sad, sad news that
my dear mother had again been very sick. But thank kind
Providence she was improving. I pray that she may be wholly
restored ere this.

[300]

1865] A YOUNG RECRUIT

Nashville, Friday, Feb. 10. Last night I had another visit
from that evil genius that seems to hover over my very exist
ence, the ague. I shook briskly for about an hour and a half,
but it was not followed by a very heavy fever. Got up to break
fast. Found that Keeler^had called my name for supernumer
ary guard. I did not feel able for duty, but as the boys have
such heavy duty on every other day, I could not refuse to do
all I could, so I went and drew me a musket and turned out
to guard-mount. Oh! how ferocious I did look with my brass
plates and fixed bayonet. Griff gone to town on guard. The
mail has just brought me a letter from John which says Mother
is improving, but yet suffering severely.

Nashville, Saturday, Feb. 11. Felt very well this morning.
Heard yesterday that Benj. Hughes formerly of Spring Green,
was a member of Co. E., 44th Wisconsin Infantry. Sergeant
Hutchinsoii going there on pass, David Evans and I went along.
Found the camp on College Hill three miles off. With little
difficulty I spied him building a chimney. When last I saw him
he was just big enough for a cow boy, but in the last four years
he had goaded nature along to satisfy his patriotism so as to
serve his country. Yet he was very small, but round, tough,
seventeen years old. He looked much pleased to meet us, and
returned with us to camp to see the rest of the boys. After" din
ner Griff and I visited smallpox hospital. Heard from D. J. D.
but could not see him. He is yet in bed.

Nashville, Sunday, Feb. 12. Very cold to-day again. Had
inspection of arms at 8:30. On supernumerary guard again.
Wrote John. No mail. Another report afloat that we are to
march or prepare for the field. Hope it is so.

Nashville, Monday, Feb. 13. Quite a cold night, fair day.
Mounted the usual number of guards for town, but were agree
ably surprised in about an hour to see them return, having been
relieved by infantry guards. Bully news for us. It is known

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now that we are to equip for the field as horse artillery. Drilled
two hours after dinner with muskets, then carried them up to
headquarters and turned them over without a sigh. So they
are gone. Gone to those that delight to use them, and we are
once more in our natural element, "walking musket company"
no more.

Nashville, Tuesday, Feb. 14. Day commenced cold and gray.
About noon it commenced raining very heavy and continued till
night. All quiet in camp. We are to draw full equipment
here except horses. Report to Chattanooga for them, where we
are to be held in the active reserve. No mail. Wrote a letter
m the afternoon. I am steadily improving. Have a ravenous
appetite, which I find difficult to control. Have plenty of the
good bread and butter with the onion pickles from home. I
eat no meat and feel better for it. Thankful should I be for a
home that sends me such things.

Nashville, Wednesday, Feb. 15. A damp, rainy day. On
guard, third relief. Very busy all day turning over con
demned stores, and drew new equipments. Ten pair spurs,
whips, scarlet blankets, and to-morrow we draw harness and
sixty-four McElellar's saddles for cannon. General Barry, chief
of artillery of Military Division of Mississippi is in town. Very
anxious to get us started. Promised Captain to give him
plenty of men from infantry regiments when needed. Good!
New life and animation seems to be infused into camp with the
prospect of once more being a Battery, worthy the name of
one, ready to fight or to march. All anxious for the spring
campaign. But great dissatisfaction exists because the pay
master stays off so long. Officers and men are all without
money. D. Evans and I visited smallpox hospital. Were sorry
to find Dan abed yet. Saw his nurse who said Dan had had a
"back set." I fear he grows disheartened and lonesome, and
when the spirit sinks it is hard for nature to do her healing
work.

[302]

1865] SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC

Nashville, Thursday, Feb. 16. Cleared up and the day closed
very beautifully. Harness and saddles, etc. drawn. Captain
Hood reported ready to go, and sure enough, a little after dusk
the word came to move early in the morning, report at Chat
tanooga Depot for transportation. All hands are packing up.
getting ready for the morrow. I wrote a letter to T. L. Vis
ited smallpox hospital again to-day. Found poor Dan in bed
yet. Our fears are many in regard to him. He is apt to get
discouraged. Griff and Dave have gone with his knapsack to
the Soldiers' Home to keep it there until he comes out. R.
Randolph has been taken with the same disease. I must now
close and retire to rest for to-morrow's work.

Nashville, Friday, Feb. 17. Very stormy night, and this
morning was blowing and raining, but military orders must be
obeyed. The teams commenced early with their work, hauling
down the guns, boxes, etc. After dinner "strike tents" was
given and we were soon out of doors. We have boxed our stove
and keg of pickled onions, expect to take them along. We are
now lying in the Chattanooga Depot, 3 P. M., awaiting trans
portation, expect to get off 6 P. M. A night's journey is ahead
of us. I am far from hearty, but feel confident that I can
weather it through.

While we were busily preparing to go to the front, M. Ten-
nant and our tent-mate Milt. Hungerford started home on a
furlough. May they have a happy visit of it.

Garrisoning Chattanooga

Chattanooga, Saturday, Feb. 18. About 4 P. M. yesterday
afternoon our cars were brought up at Nashville and the depot
hands set to work. They loaded on all our things in a short
time, and we got aboard for a ride of 150 miles on open cars
between the guns. But a soldier is full of expedients. We
cleared off a small space, made down our beds, and then spread

[ 303 ]

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the tarpaulin over the pole of the limber, making a traveling
shebang in no time, and now ready to start. After the usual
amount of switching and hooting by the boys (the whiskey being
at work in the brains of several of the boys in spite of no
money) we started off in the second Section of the 6 P. M. train.
We took a farewell look at Nashville by twilight, then crawled
into our house to avoid the chilly air that was growing cold
fast, to take all the sleep possible, tucked in snugly, three in
a bed. And we were soon warm as toast, but I will not at
tempt to describe how we rattled and bumped like corn in a
popper on that old flat car, running over the roughest road in
America without any brakesmen.

In spite of the reported bumping I slept much of the time.
Passed through the big tunnel, over the mountains without my
knowing it. But I was glad to crawl out at the first dawn.
Found us at Bass, 105 miles from Nashville. Seven more and
we stopped thirty minutes at Stevenson. It was very cold.
Washed at the Soldiers' Home and luckily went in with a
squad under Sergeant Proctor to take breakfast, which did me
a power of good, especially the hot coffee (getting old fogy).
The remainder of the journey without event.

Rounded the point of Old Lookout handsomely 12 M. and
soon found ourselves once more in the Hawk's Nest 3 P. M.
Got to the "dumping off" place, and by dark we were in camp
on a pretty knoll east of town. Stove up, fire in it and all
hands merry as a lark. How jolly a life does the soldier lead.

Chattanooga, Sunday, Feb. 19. A most beautiful day has
passed. It seems as though we have been suddenly transferred
from midwinter to beautiful summer. The sun shone in its
softest mood, everybody outdoors to bask in its rays, content
to enjoy it alone. We are camped opposite the old city ceme
tery. Many of both sexes have been paying their visit to the
dead, some to satisfy idle curiosity, others to view once more

[304]

1865] TRACTS VERSUS LITERATURE

the spot where lies some home idol. It is in a shocking state
of repair, and bore sad evidence of the ravage of war, fences all
gone, graves overrun, marble slabs misplaced and marble mon
uments broken. The soldiers have even been carrying off the
tombstones of the dead to be used in their quarters. Thought
less sacrilege. We have had a guard on all day to prevent such
proceedings by order of the pro[vost] marshal.

The soft twilight was too pleasant to lie still, so D. Evans,
who has come to stay with us, Griff, and myself started off for
a walk. On our way the peal of the church bell fell on our
ears, calling us thither, but we found the house overflowing.
Returned to camp. Boys sang sweet home music till taps, and
lights put out.

Chattanooga, Monday, Feb. 20. Another enchanting day and
great exuberance of spirits is to be seen in camp, ball and other
active outdoor amusements being the order of the day. On
guard. Do not have to stand till night, watching mules, etc.
We are surrounded by artillery camps, batteries that have laid
here all winter. Have beautiful camps and excellent houses
(not shebangs) to live in. Much more attention is paid to the
soldiers than at Nashville, all seem happy at the change. The
fever of example is wonderful. Our officers have already ab
sorbed the spirit of other batteries, and require everything done
according to "military", or in camp slang, "put on style".
Right, a good sign of discipline. Lieutenant Silsby, formerly
my. old teacher, came to see us. Looking well, glad to see him.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, Feb. 21. Threatening clouds to be
found this morning instead of the beautiful sunshine, and the
day promised to be a long and lonesome one as we had nothing
to read at all. So I obtained a pass to go and see if the Chris
tian and Sanitary Commissions could do something toward re
lieving us from this really pressing need, and as my mission was
made known and I started, I was greeted with a dozen differ-

20 [ 305 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

ent voices with "Jenk, bring me something interesting to
read." I first visited the Christian Commission rooms. Here
I made my errand known and the clerk immediately threw piles
of papers down from the well-loaded shelves with "make your
selection", but my heart failed me. Here was nothing but the
American Messenger, M. E. Advocate, Sunday School papers,
etc. in abundance. It was with an effort that I choked down
my indignation, for I knew they were furnished by men who
hoped they would do good, but really, I could not admire their
judgment. We are not a lot of little children with minds too
narrow to contemplate anything deeper than these small
' ' stories with a moral. ' ' I would not take any of them to camp
for I knew too well how my comrades were in the habit of
using such. Most of them have no particular religious con
victions, but all have an intellectual turn and are hungering
for something to satisfy it.

With some hopes I again sought the Sanitary [Commission]
rooms. I stated how we were situated and asked the gentle
manly agent for magazines. "Certainly" — and he brought
down from the shelves a pile of dusty magazines which con
sisted by count of twelve Genius of Christianity, three or four
years old, one Christian Luminary of '58, quite a variety. Made
my selection and started home with one Pittsburg Advocate,
one Genius of Christianity, one Christian Luminary, and two
tracts, disappointed in being obliged to disappoint others. But
we cannot expect much here.

Found on my return a Christian Enquirer, and a Madison
State Journal from T. L., which I devoured with avidity. No
letters yet. The 6th Badger boys have been playing ball with
our next neighbors, Buckeyes, this afternoon. We beat them
three games out of four.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, Feb. 22. The rain has not yet
come but it still threatens, cloudy. A detail is put at clearing
off a new camp ground, where Hospital No. 2 is now. Axes

[306]

1865] CAMPING IN THE RAIN

sharpened, etc. To-morrow they say we begin to put up per
manent quarters. In the afternoon on wood detail. Went
three miles to Mission Ridge, got wood. To-day is the anniver
sary of Washington's birthday, and a grand salute was fired
in honor, 12 M. Commenced from Old Lookout, followed by
all the principal forts. A big pile of mail received to-day, none
for me.

Chattanooga, Thursday, Feb. 23. Rain! rain! all night and
all day without intermission, very heavy, wind driving it
through our tents which are getting old, making it very dis
agreeable in quarters as well as out. Passed the day closely
around the stove, cracking jokes and telling camp stories. At
night carried sawdust in sacks to make our bed dry, and rolled
in. Who cares if it rains.

Chattanooga, Friday, Feb. 24. The rain ceased but it re
mained cloudy and damp. Morning spent in attending to the
domestic department, washing, etc. Mail came, bringing me
four splendid letters, one from my old father in the good old
Welsh tongue. I prize it above all others. Detail made to go
aoid begin to get out timber for quarters. Estimates made for
clothing, all required to draw full uniform. Three loads of
troops passed toward Knoxville. Enemy reported threatening,
that place.

Chattanooga, Saturday, Feb. 25. Found our tent collapsed
this morning by the big winds and heavy rains, which did not
stop to let us stake it up, but kept on raining all day in a most
furious manner, relieved by violent flashes of lightning and
thunder. Everybody kept in doors, where they became some
what soaked.

Chattanooga, Sunday, Feb. 26. A bright, beautiful day, af
fording us an opportunity to dry our clothes and blankets. On
guard, second relief. Had to stay in camp. Griff went to

[307]

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church. The day passed quickly. Read Christian Enquirer
which the mail brought me, and wrote to John. In the beauti
ful twilight the boys turned out to enjoy athletic sports, jump
ing, running, etc. All apparently as merry as though a sor
row they knew not, a picture for the weeping ones at home.

Chattanooga, Monday, Feb. 27. A pleasant day, quite hot
midday. Sergeant Hutchinson and twelve men gone to Mission
Ridge to chop timber for quarters. The remainder of the Com
pany clearing off our new camping ground most of the day.
I was exempted, being on guard. One hundred and twenty
new sabres for the guards and a load of quartermaster and ord
nance stores drawn. Griff having sold our sugar, it falls upon
me to invest it in bread to lengthen our rations. Lieutenant
Sweet gave an order on Sanitary Commission for ten rations
which I obtained at six cents per ration, cheap, plenty of bread
now. No mail for me. Troubled considerably with rheuma
tism.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, Feb. 28. A fine day. Company
formed 12 M. in best clothes for muster and inspection by reg
ular inspecting officer. Quite strict as to the appearance of

the men. Orderly Sergeant called the muster roll white he

looked on. Here as elsewhere showed his incompetency, and
the Company was heartily ashamed of him. Detail gone to the
hills, returned loaded with stakes which they had gobbled.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 1. Cloudy and looks like
rain, but we moved camp and by night we were all fixed. Our
pleasant camp commands a splendid view of the Tennessee
River both above and below, which is now very high. It used
to be occupied by general hospital. Teams out all day again.

Chattanooga, Thursday, March 2. Rained fine and constant
all night and all day, but we are dry and comfortable in our
bed of sawdust. Read Tennyson's new poem Enoch Arden this

[308]

1865] THE .HIGHER LAW

forenoon, and think it one of the finest poems I have ever read
in English. Wrote to T. L. and read an old Atlantic Monthly
in the afternoon. No mail for me.

Chattanooga, Friday, March 3. On guard. Very wet day.
Rained all day and night. Mail arrived with a letter from
T. L. All very well with the exception of dear mother. She
still is suffering severely. How much longer can her frail na
ture withstand it? It is hard to give her up here and never
more to see her loving face. Must she go without welcoming
her Jenk's return? But still I feel it would be better for her
to leave her troubles and sufferings, and go to the land where
her treasures are, there to enjoy endless day.

Chattanooga, Saturday, March 4. Heavy thunder and light
ning last night, with the rain pouring down while I was walk
ing my muddy beat. To-day it cleared up a little. Heavy de
tail after timber. Another to work in camp hewing logs. Po
liced camp in the afternoon. This is the day on which Abra
ham Lincoln is to be inaugurated. President for the second
time. After four years tempestuous sailing 'mid terrible
breakers he has carried the good old ship of state through.
May his second voyage know more sunshine, and be as success
ful as before. News is meager. Rumors of the evacuation of
Richmond and Petersburg follow up the confirmation of the
fall of the rebellious Charleston.

Chattanooga, Sunday, March 5. A most beautiful day, too
good to lay in camp. Attended church. Joined the Bible class
in chapel of Christian Commission, where we had a spirited dis
cussion as to whether we are ever justifiable in disobeying the
divine law in order to conform with the law of the land. Most
took the old Abolitionist view of it. After class listened to
good sermon. Text, "What is Man", by one of the agents.
Met Lieutenant Silsby, very sociably inclined. Returned to

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AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1865

camp to enjoy a soldier's dinner. Wrote to John and read a
sermon of H. W. Beecher, much better than the delivered one.

Chattanooga, Monday, March 6. Quite cold and windy.
Health is excellent. Sergeant Hutchinson and five men left
this morning to go to the hills, and stay a week chopping tim
ber for quarters and stables. Busy in camp also, hewing logs
and putting them up. One completed, six logs high, and 12 x 18
feet. Myself and two others sent with axes to Major Menden-
hall, commanding reserve artillery, to chop his< ;fire wood.
"Worked about an hour and were relieved.

There is but one source of discontent in camp, and that is
short rations. Bread does not near hold out, although I think
that we get the prescribed rations full. A day's rations is al
ways eaten in two meals, and as all are out of money to buy
extra;, it is severely felt. I urgently recommend to Congress
that it speedily rectify the mistake they made when they re
duced the soldiers' rations and raised his pay. But our mess
have plenty by selling sugar which we do not need and buy
bread stuff. Griff got a peck of meal to-day.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, March 7. A gray, cheerless day, and
my feelings were very much the same. Somehow or other a
feeling of sadness and seriousness settled upon me, that in
spite of all my efforts I could not shake. I am very severely
troubled with such, and feel as though I ought not to, but I
suppose the great cause is the non-arrival of mail, none having
come in since Friday.

Bridges swept off north of Stevenson by the flood which is
making sad work here also. The Tennessee has risen above its
high and rocky banks, and throws its watery arm clear around
Chattanooga, leaving us on an island. Inhabitants on the
banks have to flee to the hills for safety. Where a week ago we
could see four extensive saw mills erected and used by the gov
ernment, throwing out thousands of feet of lumber and shingles
per day, is now one watery waste, a turbid torrent rolling with

[310]

1865] THOUGHTS OF THE FUTURE

relentless fury to form with the mighty Father of Waters.
Work is plenty in camp. Policed ground for stables this after
noon, etc.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 8. Another dark day with
considerable rain but not enough to keep us within doors. Have
been shoveling hard all day leveling off stable grounds, and am
tired. Will say "no mail" and then good-night.

Chattanooga, Thursday, March 9. Weather unsettled. On
guard, second relief. Health very good, but there are no trains
from the North yet to cheer the drooping spirits. After guard-
mounting, the camp assembly sounded and the whole Company
put to work. Kept at it all day, some putting up houses, others
setting posts for stables.

Chattanooga, Friday, March 10. Last night, 8 P. M., I was
relieved in heavy rain. At midnight I entered my tent white
with snow, and this morning 6 A. M. pinched through with
cold, everything frozen hard and very cold, but the sun soon
warmed us up a little. Griffith gone off on guard to Major's
headquarters, the others on duty. I alone had nothing to do
all day, and I had some trouble to amuse myself without mail.

The forenoon I passed reading an excellent volume entitled
The Hills of the Shatmuck a story in which the characters were
noted for high purposes and aims and pure moral interest, a
rare exception among novels, but the book was finished and all
the afternoon was given to thinking and day dreaming. I too
once, like "Winthrop," longed to pluck the precious fruits of
knowledge and prepare myself for something high and enno
bling. But the time that I once wished to be spent in the
school room and among books, I have freely devoted to my
country. But he, in spite of obstacles, kept his aim towards
the desired point, and accomplished it nobly. Cannot I too
learn much that is to be learned, and is there not a niche some
where in this free country that I may occupy yet with profit to

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myself and others ? * * I '11 not give up ! No grim despair shall
ever forge a chain for me." And I'll try to do my best though
humble it may be.

Chattanooga, Saturday, March 11. 8 A. M. Assembly
sounded and our work apportioned out, I among the digging
squad. "Worked all day quite hard, but I was not tired at
night for the line was opened, and our mail came 10 A. M.
with seven big letters for me, so many that I could hardly
find time to read them. Mother is much better, John writes.
Clothing has been issued, the prices of which have gone up
wonderfully. Had to don a jacket to the tune of $9.00 or
more. We have also pup tents in the Quartermaster's tents.

Chattanooga, Sunday, March 12. A very pleasant day. In
spection 9 A. M. Company complimented by Captain Hood for
their good looks, after which Griff and I went to church to
gether. Post Chaplain preached tolerably well. Afternoon
wrote three letters. Bead Chadwick'-s sermon on "The Great
Amendment" in the Christian Enquirer, very good. J. Par
ker returned this morning from home where he had been 011 sick
furlough; as fat as butter. Was hailed with delight. He is a
favorite with all. Randolph also came in from smallpox hos
pital at Nashville; reports Dan Davis ready to come, but poor
Uncle Benson died about the 20th ult. a kind Christian man,
leaves a wife and large family. Before I left there I wrote
several letters for him, and he gave me his pocket book to keep
and I have it yet. Must try some way to get it to his wife.

Military discipline took one of the sudden jerks in our camp
to-day that is so peculiar in the volunteer army. Like a wild
colt, it makes a fretful start, kicking the harness and getting
over the traces. Two men tied to the gun, another walking
with the guard.

Chattanooga, Monday, March 13. A very beautiful day. On
guard. Company on duty as usual. Troops and provisions be-

[312]

1865] , LOGGING

ing forwarded to Nashville at a rapid rate, and it looks much
like business on hand. Ordered to prepare to receive fifty men
to-morrow. They are to be transferred from the 3rd Wisconsin
Battery. It has been cut for the 6th and 8th. That is what
we want now. Come on, horses, and let us march.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, March 14. Coming off guard, I was
exempt from work, therefore went to town on pass, Gen
eral Thomas's special headquarters train having just brought
him in from Nashville. Called on Lieutenant Silsby while re
turning, but he was not at home. Dan J. Davis came in about
noon. Very glad to see him, looks very well with scarcely a
trace of smallpox. There are five in the tent now, and we must
keep very still for want of room.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 15. A little rain last night.
Health very good. David E. and myself volunteered to go out
to the hills to load logs for a change. Took our dinner along
so as to reload the teams in the afternoon. We crossed the
first ridge where the Army of the Cumberland once won immor
tal fame. Had to lift hard on the logs and then we had to wait
for the return of the teams. We wandered over the hills and
came to a house filled with children. Could not tell what they
lived on. Borrowed a: cup and ate our dinner by a pretty little
brook. Long ago I would have called it romantic, but romance
has long ago "played out."

General Thomas inspected the camp and post yesterday. To
day he has gone to Knoxville. 4th Army Corps is passing on
railroad. This is his only veteran force, but recruits are com
ing thick and heavy.

Chattanooga, Thursday, March 16. Rained furiously last
night and blew a hurricane. Several of the tents blown down
to-day. I was detailed to go to the hills (I ought not to have
volunteered to go yesterday) with three men to load three post
teams with logs. Road very wet and muddy, and when we got

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there we were hardly able to lift the logs, as we were very small
men. Coming back, upset one wagon in a puddle many feet
deep. Another wagon broke the tongue and we left it. Reached
camp 2 P. M. very hungry and very dirty. Some of the re
serve batteries have marching orders to report at Washington.

Chattanooga, Friday, March 17. A very pleasant day. Feel
excellent. Keeler missed my name for guard this morning but
found me in time to go to the woods. A citizen carpenter with
help from the Company is at work on the stables. Spring is
opening. To-day I saw the first flowers of the season. They
grew way up Missionary Ridge.

I must not forget to say that twenty -six men from the 8th
Wisconsin Battery arrived here this morning with description
lists of about as many more, some of them in N. C., others on
detached duty. Captain Hood has been to see General Brewer
about it. He refuses to receipt for men not to be had. Cap
tain of the 8th sent all of his one-year men and those whose
term of service is about out, relieving the veterans of the 3rd.
Hood asks to send all the 8th men back and receive the 3rd.
They are a good-looking lot of men. Among them one orderly,
two sergeants and a corporal.

Chattanooga, Saturday, March 18. A very beautiful spring
day, and I did not go out to the hills, but have been on duty
all day, scoring in the forenoon and nailing shakes on the
houses in the afternoon. Quit early and policed camp nicely
for Sunday. . We have got three shelters covered and three more
ready. The new men have been put on duty and seem well
satisfied with the change.

Chattanooga, Sunday, March 19. A beautiful day. Had fuU
inspection at 8 A. M. Company makes good appearance now.
Attended church and Bible class, and the afternoon passed by
very quiet and pleasant, writing, reading, and thinking. No
mail.

[3141

1865] CAMP GARDENING

Chattanooga, Monday, March 20. Did not sleep much last
night owing to a terrible toothache. This morning orderly
wanted me to go to the woods again to pilot the teams there.
Helped load sixteen logs. One wagon capsized. Reached
camp 3 P. M. hungry and quite tired. Found Milt H., Harden
and Reed just from furlough. Look as fresh as recruits.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, March 21. Health good. All runs
smooth in camp. No startling news. All hands have been work
ing all day. I was under Simonds. Put up the logs of one
shanty in the morning, roofed another one in the afternoon.
No mail.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 22. A very windy day, dust
flying, water rising. On guard, first relief. Mail came in the
morning but did not bring any from home. All hands busy.
The homesick ones of the Company are anxious to know whether
they are to be counted in on the next batch of furloughs. Five
to go, and I know of some forty-five applications. Benoit and
R. Dye are due from last time. Gymnasium pole has been put
up to-day, and the muscular systems will be developed.

Chattanooga, Thursday, March 23. Quite a pleasant night
to stand guard in last night, but to-day it has blustered very
disagreeably, filling our eyes with dust. Did not work to-day.

Chattanooga, Friday, March 24. Wind still continues. Health
good. Mail brought me this morning my long-looked-for let
ters from home. On detail under Sergeant Goodwin all day
siding up the stables. George T. Hill started home on sick fur
lough this morning. Poor man, he has been running down for
the last four months. R. Grey's and Bancroft's furloughs re
turned approved. They start to-morrow. Two returned disap
proved.

Major Mendenhall is starting a garden for the reserve ar
tillery. Sergeant Hutchinson is detailed to take charge of it.
He is to have one man from forty-three different batteries to

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AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

help him. He is to till about seven acres of land. Sergeant
Proctor relieves him in the woods, this being queer work for
soldiers.

Chattanooga, Saturday, March 25. Night quite cold, day is
pleasant. Bunks are being put up in the new houses to-day.
Many of the boys have moved in. I did not do much to-day
but read State Journal received from home. Griff has gone to
cooking instead of Bob Grey. Sorry for it, I fear he will work
himself sick again. Five trains passed to-day loaded with from
twenty to thirty ambulances apiece, each one with the triangle
of the 4th Corps painted on its side. They go to Knoxville
and look ominous.

Chattanooga, Sunday, March 26. A pretty spring day. On
guard as supernumerary. Had preaching by one of the Chris
tian Commission agents, 10 A. M. Wrote letters in the after
noon but received none. I think I feel a little lonesome to
night.

Chattanooga, Monday, March 27. Two men took sick on
guard last night, so I had to stand four hours. Our sick list
is increasing a little, three men off duty from sore eyes. Fixed
up our bunks in the forenoon, in the afternoon was detailed
"daubing." We moved into our new home after supper. Six
bunks put up each end of the house, which is 12 x 18 ft., but
there are but fourteen in ours yet. Bunks made of shakes, no
boards given us. Griff and I occupy the middle berth.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, March 28. Last night when darkness
spread her protecting veil over us, Griff, D. Evans and myself
started out and appropriated some of Uncle Sam's lumber for
Uncle Sam's benefit, or at least his boys. Returned with enough
to make our bunks. Makes no difference where we got them.
Cloudy and rained a little this forenoon. On duty all day with
Sergeant Goodwin covering stables. Somewhat tired. Have
caught a bad cold, mouth and throat sore. Sergeant James and

[316]

1865] "APRIL FOOL

Van Brocklin taken sick very sudden about 4 P. M. James
will not live long if no change takes place.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 29. Rained last night. Feel
no better with my cold. Sergeant James some better this morn
ing. All the men not on duty ordered out to police the country
round. Was out with the crowd in the forenoon. Cleared and
leveled off the ground in our front, forty rods around. This
afternoon detailed with the house builders, put up the logs for
Captain's house. Rained heavy toward evening. Houses shed
rain well.

Chattanooga, Thursday, March 30. No rest for the wicked,
for the present at least. Was on the inevitable detail as usual
working on Captain's house. I and another man sawed out
the door hole and corner blocks in the forenoon, roofed it and
fixed ready to move into it in the afternoon. Rained till I
was wet through before quitting time. Feel tired and some
what sick from my cold. Dye finally reported from furlough,
six days behind time. David Carpenter also joined us, hav
ing been relieved from duty at 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps
headquarters. He left the good old command at Pocataligo,
and came via Savannah and New York. News is splendid all
around, would like to have a little from home though.

Chattanooga, Friday, March 31. Felt much better after a
good night's rest. A very cold morning for this season. Noti
fied by Corporal Ray to get my breakfast early and go out to
the hill to chop and load logs. Gone all day. I found four
letters when I returned, and in them I was surprised to find
the familiar faces of Sisters Mary and Ellen. Look as they
used to three years ago. I assigned them a prominent place
in my album, which is a precious treasure to me.

Chattanooga, Saturday, April 1. This is "All Fools Day"
as I was very forcibly reminded this morning by a cutting
"April Fool." Many besides myself were victimized in camp.

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But there was no April Fool about the morning detail, and I
must come on. Nailed shakes on the stables till dinner. After
dinner, stable detail was not called out, but left to police camp.
I staid indoors and wrote two letters which I ought to have
done before, but could not find the time. Lieutenant Sweet's
house finished to-day and they hare moved in. Rumors of
leaving are already afloat, generally the case when once we be
come comfortably established. Good news and plenty of it.

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 2. A beautiful sunny day. On
guard, but by virtue of a little blacking on my boots or some
thing else, appointed orderly for the day, which is an easy thing.
Carried down the mail and brought a little back. Had all the
rest of the day to myself, which I passed very pleasantly read
ing and writing. At evening I felt there was much happiness
in this life if one is disposed to receive it.

Victory

Chattanooga, Monday, April 3. Richmond is taken. Vic
tory! Victory!! Victory!!! After three years of long, anxious
and prayerful waiting for this crowning news, it at last comes
with the verifying signatures of A. Lincoln, U. S. Grant and
E. M. Stanton. It reached camp in the shape of an extra about
2 P. M. in but a few hours after it was known in Washington.
And when it came I was hardly able to receive it, and I still
could but fear of a contradiction that hithertofore has been so
painful. Its effect on the camp was curious, each one moving
briskly aglow with animation. Organized cheers is played out
amongst old soldiers, but the broken, wild Indian-like whoops
that pierced the air nearly all the afternoon would almost be
considered terrific by "tame people". At 6 P. M. one hundred
guns were fired from the surrounding hills. Each boom called
forth a hearty response from the many tented hills and hollows
of Chattanooga, and seemed to crush the last lingering doubt

[318]

1865] "RICHMOND is TAKEN

in every bosom. "Who will dare doubt that the end is to be
glorious ?

Chattanooga, Tuesday, April 4. The morning Gazette gives
nothing but a confirmation of yesterday's news. The day is
pleasant and men to work the engine of war are still being trans
ported Knoxville-ward. Lee now will look for a green spot in
a Confederate oasis in which to rest his weary limbs, I suppose.
It aint East Tennessee, Sir.

This afternoon orders came to draw horses and we thought
of marching ahead, but were withdrawn, military usage. Some
in camp are already discussing when they will get home by
virtue of the "end of the war". One-year men think we will
all be home by July. Some veterans think "New Year's about
the time." I wish they could all go when I go, but there is
much to do yet, ere harmony and peace can be restored, and the
soldier must do it.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, April 5. After reading the morn
ing Gazette to find the painful "no news", when we knew there
were armies in commotion, the details came, and my lot was to
police in front of batteries with thirty others, post teams haul
ing. Worked all day but nobody hurt himself. The mail has
been very short for two or three days.

Chattanooga, Thursday, April 6. Very rainy and wet. No
duty till noon when orders came to draw horses immediately,
so to-night we have one hundred and forty-five horses in our
new stables. Rather a poor quality all through. Much curios
ity is manifested by some as to what and where they are to be.
Drivers are anxious to receive the best teams. They will not
be apportioned till to-morrow.

Chattanooga, Friday, April 7. A very heavy rain fell all
last night, accompanied with vivid lightning and heavy thunder,
which scared our sentinel on the guns off his beat, piteously

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imploring the corporal in tears to relieve him if he had any
sympathy for him, which is the cause of some merriment in
camp this morning.

The forenoon spent in dividing horses to the different platoons.
Afternoon they were assigned to the men. Our teams are com
posed of good horses, hut the cannoneers ' horses are the leavings,
and a very poor-looking set. We drew them by lot, and I drew
a bony plug, not yet of age, I should judge. Corporal Parish
has assigned me to No. 3 on the gun. My duty will be to ' * tend
the vent. ' ' I would rather have another number as it is a heavy
responsibility in action.

Chattanooga, Saturday, April 8. A nice sunny day. Every
thing looks very pretty, the little birds chirping a merry wel
come to spring. On guard. Received two letters. Artificers
busy painting carriages of the Battery. Ordered to have an
inspection by Major Mendenhall as soon as ready. Orders
have been received to consolidate the 3rd Battery entire with
the 6th Battery. Men looked for daily. 8th boys are afraid
they will have to go back.

Another big batch of news to-day. Phil Sheridan has whipped
Lee himself, capturing eight generals. Hopes to compel sur
render, but I think he is too confident. Some in camp go so
fa.r as to prophesy a formidable movement of 6th Battery 011
Madison, Wisconsin, soon.

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 9. Notwithstanding a night as
delightful as could be imagined, to-day it rained nearly all day
most desolately. Had to ride to the river to water twice, got
well soaked every time. We have to go over a mile on account
of steep banks. Wrote home. In the evening the spirit moved
all in our house and we had singing in variety, good old ortho
dox hymns mixed in with "John Brown" and "Dixie" most
irreverently. It seems to relieve the spirits, but I do not know
but it is wicked.

[320]

1865] "JOHN BROWN" AND DIXIE

Chattanooga, Monday, April 10. Wet and muddy day, but
no one knew it for we had such good news. 11 A. M. a bit of
paper no bigger than my hands was distributed with the words

"Lee has surrendered his army on terms which I dictated."

U. S. GRANT.

It was enough.

1 P. M. the cannons spoke in thunder tones. Two hundred
guns fired in rapid succession, around us on all sides, which
mingled with the huzzahs of troops, reminded me very forcibly
of more stirring scenes which I have witnessed. God grant
that we may know no more such. How the thought of peace
and tranquility throbs in each soldier's breast when he thinks
of the home and associates he left so reluctantly to follow the
path of duty, soon to be restored to him. No wonder his spirits
should be exuberant, aye, even intoxicated with delight. But
pen and paper is altogether too tame on such occasions. I'll
write no more.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, April 11. Lee has no doubt surrend
ered! but it did not stop detailing in camp. I was one of the
lucky ones to report to the Inspector General (a man from
each Battery) 8 A. M. And we went to work on a miniature
''Dutch gap canal", two large ponds of stagnant water lying
between the camps were to be drained and carried off to the
river. And by supper time we had the satisfaction of know
ing that it was not a failure like Butler's, but carried off ague
and diarrhea with a rush. Am a little tired but do not regret
the labor bestowed.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, April 12. Another of the many
rainy days that we have to experience in this country, a con
tinuous stream poured down all day. Had to water the horses
twice, doing which I got thoroughly soaked each time, but it
would not be military to change.

Received letters from home stating they had their wheat all

21 [ 321 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1865

in. Here the trees are not in leaf yet, although spring has
opened six weeks ago. What little farming is done here goes
on very leisurely, while Wisconsin gives the husbandman but
a short season, and he must go at it with a rush. So give me
the cold regions, that demand energy, in preference to the balmy
South that cultivates sluggish habits after all. This is a great
cause of the backwardness of Southern agriculture. As long
as the one-horse shovel-plow, made out of a crooked stick works,
why should they ask for better, they think. But the day of
reformation is at hand. Progression has vindicated her rights
by the bloody hand of war.

Chattanooga, Thursday, April 13. A sunny day, but Chatta
nooga is sick with its nature element, viz mud, thick and thin,
wherever we go. On duty all day. Did not work hard. Took
our horses out grazing, outside the picket this afternoon. Rather
small picking. Gathered a beautiful bouquet of delicate spring
flowers, violets, forget-me-nots, sweet williams, etc. I wish I
could carry them to mother's sick room. Track out of order
somewhere. No mail. Six men from the works reported to
Captain Hood, formerly 3rd Battery men.

Chattanooga, Friday, April 14. On guard once more, and
eight hours more of the rebellion to be trod out by night. The
day is very pleasant. Grazed my horses and Griff's as usual
Men are scarce to take care of all the horses. Those not on duty
drilled an hour, foot drill, in the morning.

12 M. Another salute of two hundred guns fired in commem
oration of raising aloft the stars and stripes on the ruined walls
of Sumter, where four years ago to-day the heroic Anderson
was obliged to pull it down by the traitorous crew. To him is
the glory of replacing the good old ensign over that work that
now lies in ruins, the fate of all treason.. The soldier heart
swells with the same emotion as now stirs the bosom of our
noble President and great Beecher. God bless them and our
Country.

[ 322 ]

1865] STERN THOUGHTS

Chattanooga, Saturday, April 15. Tis night, a beautiful
day has just closed. But alas ! a dark pall hangs over our camp.
The soldier mourns the loss of the noblest American of the day.
President Abraham Lincoln has fallen by the hands of a traitor
ous assassin. 2 P. M. we started out to graze, each and all light-
hearted and merry. But lo ! while out near the foot of Mission
Ridge, the stars and stripes over Fort Cr eight on were seen to
descend to half-mast, and the news reached us as if by magic of
the fall of our noble president. A gloom was cast upon every
one, and silently we returned to camp, still hoping for a contra
diction. But it was too true. The scene that followed was one
very seldom seen in the tented field. But a soldier is not, as
many think, wholly void of feeling. All regarded the loss of
him as of a near and dear relative. Terrible were the oaths and
imprecations uttered through clenched teeth against the vile
perpetrators. The black flag of extermination would be hailed
with joy by the soldiers this moment as a1 just retaliation. Never
before did I feel in favor of such measures, but now I think
they deserve no other. The "extra4" containing the short ac
count of the occurrence has gone the rounds, read in each shanty.
Traitors everywhere will rejoice over this, the crowned heads
of Europe will greet it with joy, but their joy will come to grief.
Republican principles will vindicate their superiority, and pass
through this trial wiser and better for the tribulations they
undergo.

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 16. A very pleasant day. As
we rode to water this morning, Chattanooga wore a very solemn
aspect. The whole town was draped in mourning, flags tied
with black, and white crepe exhibited in all parts of the town,
while the 100-pounder Parrotts high up on Cameron Hill fired
half-hour guns from 5 A. M. till 6 P. M. The gloom of yester
day still hangs over the camp.

Papers sought for in vain this morning. Hon. W. H. Seward
reported in a critical condition. I tremble lest we be deprived

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of his services also, when his great mind and ripe experience are
most needed. Andrew Johnson is to-day President of the United.
States. A nation in tears looks towards him to-day for direction
and guidance. God grant him power and wisdom to discharge
the trust placed upon him. I doubt not the man's motives, but
I fear that he has not the moral stability required. If he will
not set aside the public interest to follow party prejudices and
personal interest, I trust all will be well. One thing I feel a
trust in, and that is our armies are still led by the same brave
and dauntless leaders that "will conquer or die."

Grazed in the afternoon. Wrote a letter home. Sad news
of the death of Robert Banks reached us last night. Died in
Hospital No. 1 yesterday. Another void in. a Northern home
never to be filled on earth. A. Trunkhill taken to the hospital
late last evening very sick. No mail yet, railroad out of repair.
Trains promised to-morrow. The Tennessee River flooding
again for the sixth time this season.

Chattanooga, Monday, April 17. Splendid weather. Good
appetite. Harness and saddles unboxed and issued out this
morning. Hitched up and went out to drill. Captain Nicklin.
inspector-general, was on the ground. Drilled three batteries
together. Brigade drill for two hours, did very well. Noon by
the time we reached camp. To-morrow we are to have monthly
inspection, everything being "slicked up" in preparation.. A
comrade took out my horse to graze, so I had time to write to
sister Hannah. No mail yet.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, April 18. Prepared for inspection
early. Moved out at 8 A. M. Formed west of the National
Cemetery, a mile from camp, four batteries out. After a close
inspection by the Inspector and Major, Captain Nicklin mounted
his horse, and put us through brigade drill for two hours, sharply
much of the time on a trot. Our Battery was on the flank, con
sequently had to "git" often. I like horse artillery well on
drill. 'Tis fun to ride a good horse through the maneuvers.

[324]

1865] DRILLING

"Coly" took a team to-day and I am restored to my old position
of No. 6, which I like the best of any. In the afternoon, In
spector visited camp and quarters, so the thing is over for this
month.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, April 19. A very hot sultry day.
Drilled from 8 to 9, battery drill. Returned to camp to receive
a bouncing mail, four letters for me, better than a furlough.
News is still very uncertain and exciting. Mobile and Johnston
both reported to be captured, but it needs confirmation.

Chattanooga, Thursday, April 20. A fine day. Spring is
fast giving way to summer. The trees are clothed in full-grown
vegetation, and towerng Lookout with its surrounding hills,
that a little while ago were sear and brown, are now in living
green.

Drilled an hour on the guns this morning, grazed all the after
noon. R. Grey returned yesterday from a furlough. Takes
Griff's place in the cook house, which relieves me from the care
of his horses. On guard mount, guard in the evening instead
of morning now.

Chattanooga, Friday, April 21. The day has passed, lowering
and threatening, however rained but little. Stood my guard very
pleasantly. Got off from going foraging. Relieved at night.
To-morrow morning on duty ; this way they get six hours more
duty out of us every guard day. M. L. Bancroft and F. Benoit
returned from furlough. Captain Hood is quite sick.

Chattanooga, Saturday, April 22. The weather has taken
an unaccountable cold turn, fire is comfortable all day. Drilled
an hour on the gun this mornng. Lieutenant Jenawein appeared
in camp this morning direct from the old 15th Army Corps. Ha
left them at Goldsboro, N. C. He has been acting as ordnance
officer for the artillery of the Corps. Looks well with his first-
lieutenant straps on. He is now our ranking lieutenant.

[325]

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George Hill who left us three weeks ago, a mere skeleton, on
sick furlough, has returned fat and plump. What a place Wis
consin must be. War news is very uncertain. Johnston's
army and Mobile are still in the ' ' bag, ' ' but I guess they '11 soon
come out of it.

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 23. Cold night but warm mid
day. Wrote my usual letters, read, etc. Grazing in the after
noon took up most of the time. No danger of ennui at present.
Health very good.

Chattanooga, Monday, April 24. Heavy hoar frost on the
ground this morning. Drilled in mounted detachments this
morning by Lieutenant A. Sweet. It is quite pleasant, the horses
learn almost as fast as the men. Everything passed off very
pleasantly. Harmony in the Company to-day as well as every
other day. Brotherly kindness exists amongst all, still and
quietly.

But the contrast between officers and privates is sickening,
and I grieve to write it. - - returned with six months' pay,
thereby establishing a whiskey fund. - I understand, has

placed him under arrest in a fit of intoxication, I suppose. He

seeks consolation in the " flowing bowl." was reported in

his quarters a little dryer Saturday. After supper - — , - — ,

with our and a neighboring lieutenant staggered into

camp beastly drunk, an open insult to the boys whom they com
mand. Words ran high amongst them and a drunken brawl
was imminent while the boys flocked around to see the "ex
ample set." My feelings were those of indignation. Here was
our - - and two - - in the depth of drunken degradation in
broad daylight. I longed to see an officer ride through camp
who despised such things, and at once relieve us from such dis
grace. But, Oh, where is there an officer that is not a similar
slave? Echo answers where f But I am proud of our excep
tions. We have two officers who hold such things in proper
disgust. They, are Men.

[326]

1865] WORK GOES ON

Chattanooga, Tuesday, April 25. A very pleasant day.
Health good. No mail for ine. Although General Thomas has
stopped all great building and work of all kinds, we are still
kept at it. The right wing of the stable is enlarged and roofed.
Have been "shaking" all day. Did a good day's work.

4th Army Corps returned from Knoxville, nothing for them
to do there. Every train from there is alive with noisy Yankees.
Some think they go to Texas to do their last work. Five batter
ies of the reserve, they say, to go with them. Considerable
speculation as to whether we are to go along or not. I don't
care.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, April 26. A hot day. Lieutenant
A. Sweet took the Battery out to drill this morning, first time
he ever acted in that capacity, but he is a thorough tactician,
and is at home at any post. Had an interesting drill. All
gave him due attention. - relieved from arrest, the whiskey

having worked off - -'s brain, and he resumes his old position.
I guess he has not yet been mustered as first lieutenant. A very
pleasant day. Health very good.

Chattanooga, Thursday, April 27. Battery drill from 7 to
8 A. M. Mail came in. Received three letters. Grazed in the
afternoon. Picket ofificer would not allow us to go out of sight
of his picket line. Forty guerrillas seen in the vicinity this
morning. I guess it is a scare. Went on guard at sunset, first
relief.

Chattanooga, Friday, April 28. I have just finished treading
out. another eight hours of this rebellion. Scoured my sabre
and turned it over to the orderly so my successor can have it.
Most of the boys are on duty, some are white- washing the stables,
others policing, and I find more quiet to write than usual.
Our quarters are full of boisterous soldiers generally — sixteen
makes a great noise. Have written to T. L. and must cease this

[327]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1865

scribble to enjoy g, short space of quiet inaction, for I am in a
happy, lazy mood.

By the way, our gallant old leader, General Sherman, has
committed a grave mistake in dealing with his crafty foe, John
ston. Already the ravenous editors are pouncing upon him to
tear him by piecemeal, but the soldiers are slow to censure one
whom they respect so much. I for one doubt not his sincerity
for a single moment. But, great in magnanimity himself, he
placed far too much confidence in the honor of his enemy. Gen
eral Grant goes forward. All will soon be right again. Booth
has been shot by his pursuers, thereby cheating hemp of its
dues.

Chattanooga, Saturday, April 29. It has been raining at times
all day and last night. Went to town on pass this morning, got
a paper containing the cheering news of Johnston's surrender
of all troops east of Chattahoochee River. Hurrah ! Hurrah !
Everybody feels very good, but we have become accustomed to
good news, it does not call forth much demonstration.

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 30. A cool, windy day. This is
the last day of the month, consequently muster day. Mustering
officer, Lieutenant Dutch, arrived 12 M. Lieutenant A. Sweet
commanded the company, Hood yet unfit for duty. After in
specting our uniforms, we were soon given another credit of two
months on Uncle Sam 's account. He now owes us eight months '
pay, and I think will not pay us till he gives us a finail settlement.

All is life and hilarity in our camp, and grape-vine rumors are
plenty. General Steedman has gone to Dalton to receive the
surrender of rebel General Wofford and his command. Kirby
Smith I think will soon ''hang up the fiddle". Considerable of
the '62 excitement prevails. They say orders are issued to
muster us out immediately. I do not credit it yet, and am for
my own self not anxious, but am willing to bide my time or wait
till "we all go home together." Yet I must admit that my heart

[328]

1865] GETTING RELICS

beats quicker and my breath comes faster as I think of return
ing to ' ' Home, sweet home. ' '

Chattanooga, Monday, May 1. May Day, and I begin another
book in good health and splendid spirits. Went out on brigade
drill this morning 8 A. M. Four horse batteries drilled under
Major Mendenhall, our chief. Maneuvered on the nice green
flat south of Fort Phelps. The loud voices of command and the
clamor of the bugles, attracted many spectators. The drill
passed off pleasantly and instructive. The 6th Battery under
Lieutenant Sweet did as well as the best. Reached camp by
dinner time.

Never was our camp fuller of grape-vine rumors than now,
and I never knew soldiers under greater excitement. The vague
orders of the War Department in relation to reducing expenses
and mustering out the army, gives all the ground of believing
in a speedy discharge, consequently a hundred different specula
tions exist. I don't feel any peculiar exhilaration, but like the
rest, I cannot stay long in a place but go about to hear and talk.
Ed Hayes and I procured a section of the mine laid in bottom
of the Tennessee River to Bridgeport during Bragg 's siege, this
afternoon. Quite a curiosity.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, May 2. The sun arose in all its maj
esty, promising a splendid day. After breakfast Landen and
George Spencer were going on top of Lookout. They had a pass
for three, and invited me to go along. Having a great desire to
visit, I was soon before the officer of the day, thence to Captain
Hood, and the request granted. With a loaf of bread and tin
cup in my haversack, we started.

Delayed till 8 A. M. waiting for pass to go through picket lines.
Two miles brisk walking brought us to the base of the mountain
which looked much more formidable there than from camp. We
made the ascent on the military road which has been blasted
and macadamized by Uncle Sam. It ran zigzag along the east
slope of the hill, and not too steep to drive a team quite readily.

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Patiently we trudged along around massive piles of eternal rocks
and past beautiful rustic springs of pure cold water, gushing
from solid rocks, partly fixed by the hand of man for the accom
modation of man and beast. The road was lined on both sides
with heavy foliage of living green, with an occasional opening,
through which we could look back on the map-like plat of Chat
tanooga, with its well-laid camps, and cool our heated brows
with the cool refreshing breezes.

Up and up we go, ever and anon we pass a notice by the en
gineer, giving the elevation above the Tennessee and the distance
up to the top. For over two hours we tugged upwards, our en
thusiasm somewhat abated by the fatigue, but finally we reached
the summit. A sentinel with white gloves and glistening brass,
a "true regular" demanded to see our pass. We were now two
miles or more from the point which overlooks the town. Here
was quite a town called Summer Town with a large tavern,
stables, etc. Evidently this was once a great pleasure resort
in the summer season for the aristocracy. Here were also ex
tensive hospital buildings erected by the U. S., accommodating
I should judge, over 5,000 sick. Also the camp of the Regular
Brigade quartered here for over a year.

But time was precious and we pushed on toward the west
side of the mountain which is about a mile and a half across,
through a heavy growth of timber with a beautiful variety of
wild flowers. Before noon we stood on the grounds where
Hooker and his men won immortal fame in November, 1863.
Directly beneath us we could see the remains of the camp in
Lookout Valley. On the further side of the valley wras a train
of cars leaving Sequatchie Station, looking very diminutive like
a child's plaything. On the parapet we walked around the
craggy points towards the Point, passing several heavy lines of
rebel earthworks. 'Tis astounding how men could ever fight
on such precipitous rocks. By a most lovely spring gushing
over the very brink we seated ourselves in the refreshing shade
of a sycamore, and ate our dinner with keen relish.

[330]

1865] LOOKOUT

Now we stood on the veritable point, 1600 feet above high
water mark of the Tennessee, 200 feet straight down the rocks.
The scene from this place was the grandest I have ever seen,
and may be the most extensive I may ever see again. Chatta
nooga looked very regular and flat, Mission Ridge dwindled
down to an apparent flat, and miles beyond it was but one flat
ocean of green timber. Off to the east the eye could distin
guish four distinct ranges of mountains beyond the Mission
Eidge, the last being the obscure Smoky Mountains of North
Carolina, undoubtedly sixty miles distant. To the northeast
the view was much further, nothing to intercept the vision as
far as the naked eye could reach. We could look over into
Western Virginia and East Tennessee, and imagine all kinds of
things of the human beings scattered along. To the west and
north the eye had not as wide a range, the Cumberland Moun
tains being as high, if not higher, but could easily see Alabama
in that way. Five different states of our now almost happy
Union from one place. Watered by the creek-like Tennessee
River, which made a double slant, to the foot of the mountain,
leaving the point of land on the opposite side in the exact
shape of a huge foot, hence the name " Moccasin Point", where
Thomas's batteries were so hotly engaged with Lookout dur
ing Bragg 's siege.

Here we found a photograph gallery erected on the jut of a
rock — takes pictures of objects on an adjoining point, $6.00 per
dozen. He has many very beautiful plates of the mountain
scenery, prominent among them is the Lula Falls and Lake
about six miles south of the summit; but one day's furlough
would not grant us the pleasure of visiting it, so we commenced
the descent in the nearest direction, which appeared but a
short distance. For a while we went directly downward through
the seam in the rock, then by aid of trees and shrubs we kept
up with ourselves. Down, down we went, but yet no bottom,
often obliged to rest. An hour's walk brought us to the bot-

[ 331 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1865

torn, and thankful for it. We wended our way to camp, tired
but well satisfied with our excursion.

We reached camp by 5 P. M. Found everything quiet. No
body mustered out as yet but much talk of it. 18th Ohio Bat
tery and brigade of infantry taken to Dalton to-day by Steed-
man. I understand he has made several attempts at negotia
tions with rebel General Wolf ord, but failed. He is now to re
sort to strenuous measures.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, May 3. Went on guard last night
at sunset, acting as corporal of the guard. Was on duty from
12 P. M. to 12 M. more fatiguing I think than to stand on
post. Went to town this afternoon. Found the town guarded
exclusively by negro troops, white troops retired this morning.
They must intend to dispense with some of us soon. My health
is good. News is sought with great eagerness. There are but
few cents of money in camp, and one paper often goes into
every shanty.

Chattanooga, Thursday, May 4. A very hot, sultry day. An
other battery drill this morning under Lieutenant Sweet, Still
the excitement runs high. Grape-vine telegraph is very pro
ductive. Every hour through the day has its " special items."
Bets run high, with stakes mostly ''something good to eat"
after the ''muster out." The situation is yet unclouded, and
I can see nothing to prevent us from being sent home soon.
Bathed in the Tennessee River in the evening, drilled on the
gun after supper. Looks like rain, hope it will and cool the
air.

Chattanooga, Friday, May 5. No rain to cool the terrible
air or lay the dust, which flies in heavy clouds, reminding one
very vividly of old Spring Green prairie. Have been very
busy all day, could not find time to write a letter. 7 A. M.
went out for brigade drill by Major Mendenhall, but he did not
come, so we had an interesting drill of our own. A. Sweet is

[332]

1865] A NEIGHBORLY LIFT

bringing the Company up to its old Rieiizi standard in drilling.
Great strife among the detachments, both trying to come into
battery first. Second piece is ready first every time. Returned
to camp by 11, another hour in column to water and back.

After dinner went out to Mission Ridge after wood, two
wagons and four men. At the picket post our gallant driver
took up two of the fair ones, who after enjoying their quid of
tobacco silently for a mile or so, said the ride "helped 'em
right smart." Drilled two hours after supper. Ration day.
Drew two day&' rations of bread and three of hard-tack, no
more soft bread to be issued. They want us to eat the surplus
hard-tack. This is considered significant.

Chattanooga, Saturday, May 6. No rain yet to settle the
dust, which has been flying in blinding clouds all day, very
hot and sultry. Policed camp and stables this afternoon in
stead of drill. "What is the news" is yet the cry, and stray
bits of rumors are caught and devoured with avidity.

Chattanooga, Sunday, May 7. A very hot day, still dusty.
Had the usual morning inspection. Grazed in the afternoon.
Camp more quiet than it has been for some days. Wrote a
letter to John and Hannah. Mounted guard at retreat, as
corporal this time again, Hayes sick. Found nice patch of
ripe strawberries to-day.

Chattanooga, Monday, May 8. The cooling rain drops have
been falling in a refreshing shower all day. Have done my
guard duty once more. How many more times must I go on
before I will be relieved from this machine life ? Will my mind
ever be allowed to dictate the movements of the body again?
I hope so. I have received an interesting letter from my old
bunk mate, Evie. Have written him two full sheets in return.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, May 9. Very much pleasanter after
yesterday's rain. Drilled to-day in camp twice. No orders
disposing of us poor "critters" received yet, although much

[333]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1865

expected. Great dissatisfaction exists among the veterans in
regard to the government mustering out all the sick soldiers,
recruits, etc. except the veterans. It is not right, I think. They
came out first and have been the means of bringing about this
happy end, and they should be the first to receive the reward,
I think. We have been eating hard-tack for the last two days,
and I find myself suffering from the change. My system, weak
ened from living on inadequate food, is not vigorous enough
to digest it, hence the return of diarrhea.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, May 10. Went out on battery
drill this morning, afterwards to water. When I reached camp
felt quite unwell, bowels very painful. Drilled at noon, heavy
fever followed it.

Chattanooga, Thursday, May 11. Feel much better than yes
terday afternoon, although weak yet. Yesterday afternoon had
a severe fever, and my whole frame ached sorely. Ate no sup
per. Bathed in the evening and perspired freely. Bowels are
yet very sore, but fever is gone. Griff made a cup of gruel for
my breakfast. Did not go to sick call, hence on duty, were it
not for Goodwin's kindness. But I have no desire to be sub
jected to the doctor's barbarous cure-all. Cantharides blister
is his universal remedy for everything. Drew soft bread to
day again, which is a little better, and by doing all I can to
help nature I expect to be all right again. I have had only
one of my accustomed spells, when my system becomes pros
trated by hard usage, but I have a wonderful vitality, and it
soon rallies again to its accustomed standard. I hope to keep
all right until I bid adieu to soldiering.

Chattanooga, Friday, May 12. We derive comfort around
our camp stove with a roaring fire this morning, but about
noon it grew hot enough for comfort. Feel better, but have no
appetite for the coarse rations we receive. No drill this morn
ing. Lieutenant Sweet and several others gone to Lookout

[334]

1865] JUSTICE FOR DAVIS

mounted. Also five on foot, some out of the guard list, which
brings me on No. 1 post, third relief of guard to-night. I am
not fit to go on, but will try it, as none are excused save those
who report to the doctor. Ex-rebel Wofford surrendered 8000
men at Kingston, Ga., to-day to Brigadier General Judah. So
it goes on.

Chattanooga, Saturday, May 13. Very pleasant night to
stand guard. Sun very hot to-day. No. 1 post is most ex
posed. Have to walk the beat with military precision on the
park. I am no worse, but feel better. Headache has left me.
Received a letter from home; wrote one to sister Jane. She is
now teaching school, a child when I left. Thus have I been
standing still while others have been acquiring knowledge for
the last three years, but I regret not the sacrifice. Ellen's
['school] commences next Monday. Truly do I belong to an en
terprising family.

Chattanooga, Sunday, May 14. A calm and quiet Sabbath
has passed, and we have had much of the time for ourselves,
no grazing, etc. Wrote home and to sister Hannah. I am
troubled much in regard to her, have not received any letter
from her for over two weeks and I fear she is sick again. Her
ambition is too much for a frail nature.

2 P. M. a special dispatch brought into camp stating that Old
Jeff and crew has been taken finally. It is official and no
doubt true. The arch traitor is at last brought to justice.
What will be done with him? I trust the law will be vindi
cated in its full extent.

Chattanooga, Monday, May 15. Reveille sounded at 4 A. M.
Harnessed and saddled up before feeding, ate an early break
fast and started out for brigade drill, five horse batteries on
the ground by 6 A. M. Major Mendenhall drilled us for nearly
two hours. The morning being cool, it passed off very pleas
antly, and we returned to camp feeling better for the exercise,

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AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

.Remainder of the forenoon appeared long. Grazed in the after
noon and had an interesting game of chess with Ed. Hayes.
No news, but many wild reports. Amongst the most exciting
is that Jeff Davis is to pass through to-night.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, May 16. Captain Hood took us out
to battery drill early, but came back in an hour. Orders re
ceived to graze but twice a week, which is agreeably received
by the boys. Notwithstanding, went out this afternoon, went
to the hills. Will Holmes and I got into an orchard, had all
the ripe cherries we wanted to eat, also some nice strawberries.

"When we returned, we found a large squad of rebs having
come in, and they were coralled near the church where General
Judah was paroling them. After roll call Griff and I went
down to view the last * ' row of shad. ' ' They were a portion of
Brig. Gen. B. J. Hill's Cavalry Division, quartered in a barn.
He sent several squads to other points nearer to their homes
to be paroled. He came in person with them, some 150 Ten
nessee and Kentucky men. The officers kept horses and side
arms. Many of them support a great deal of gold lace with an
air of defiance. Privates are the same squalid, low-foreheaded,
long-haired, unintelligent specimens of humanity. As all the
others, look a little crestfallen, but strange to say many of
them thought they were not whipped, but "reckoned they mote
be arter a while". Poor ignorance.

Chattanooga, "Wednesday, May 17. Reveille sounded very
early every morning now. Begin to feel very well, think I
can grind hard-tack enough to keep the system going for a
while. Nothing to read or do, so procured a pass to see if I
could not find some reading matter in town.

Found Chattanooga literally filled with "gray backs" rid
ing to and fro at will. About two hundred came in this morn
ing, a portion of Hardee's Corps, the picked escort of Old Jeff.
They followed him to Washington, Ga., when he took it alone
with a few friends, and left them to go and receive their pa-

[336]

1865] A DASHING PRISONER

roles, which they received at Atlanta, Ga. Many of them were
quite splendidly dressed, having the finest uniforms I have
ever seen with them. I talked with many of them in a friendly
strain, astonished to find them so ignorant of the history of the
last year. But most of them are heartily tired of war, and
say they are willing to bide the will of the United States, but
fear Andy Johnson's severity. One poor fellow in a sad strain
said he "was going to the place where his home once was, but
God knows where it is now, I have not heard from any of them
for ten months/' They were commanded by one of the most
desperate, wild-looking colonels I have ever seen, a fair repre
sentation of the pictures we see of brigand chiefs or buccaneers.
He wore a large, warm, home-made cloak, plaited around the
waist like an old fashioned wammus, hanging clear to his heels,
and a coarse white hat with a brim a foot wide, and greasy hair
below the shoulders. About evening six hundred more came in.
Silver and gold is quite plenty. Dealers in town are reaping
a harvest. Scrip is useless, a newsboy hesitating to sell a pa
per for $100.00 of it.

Chattanooga, Thursday, May 18. Yesterday's rain continued
all day to-day with slight interruptions. Groomed "Old
Gray ' ' which is about all I did. A little before noon we turned
out to see a battalion of the 13th Tennessee. They march by
in their grey. Still they come, thicker and faster and more of
them.

5 P. M. Rebel General Williams marched in at the head of
the 1st, 2nd, and 9th Kentucky, the 1st Brigade of Wheeler's
Cavalry. They rode good horses. At the bridge a line of blue
flanked them on either side. They rode along with downcast
eye and clouded brow, officers each having three or four re
volvers strapped to themselves, as they were allowed to retain
side-arms. Undoubtedly most of them were transferred from
the privates' belts before coming in. The surplus ones were
thrown into the river they say. And these were the men that

22 [ 337 ]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1865

had for four years made themselves notorious by their heinous
deeds, now allowed all civility. I fear they are tame from
policy, and not from principles, and will yet give us trouble.
On guard at 7 P. M., No. 1, third relief, so I must retire in
order to get up at 11 P. M.

Awaiting Discharge

Chattanooga, Friday, May 19. Rainy and disagreeable. Was
wet all day from 5 to 7. I was on post during one of the most
sublime and terrific rain storms I have ever witnessed. Two
clouds of pitchy darkness swept down upon us from different
directions, enveloping all the surrounding hills and meeting
over Chattanooga. Poured rain in torrents with thunder and
lightning playing high carnival right in our midst. My poncho
was poor defense against such a storm, and I was thoroughly
wetted. Feel quite unwell, and will go to bed though it is not
dark.

Chattanooga, Saturday, May 20. Last night I again suffered
from chill and very heavy fever, a type of the ague which seems
to be a part of my nature. Whatever jars my vital power is
certain to bring on ague. Suffered considerable pain under my
right shoulder, experiencing some difficulty to breathe at times,
a slight attack of pleurisy, I think. Did not arise until break
fast time, did my duty the remainder of the day. No mail yet
to speak of, five days' now due.

New excitement in camp caused by a new batch of rumors,
substance of which is that we are to take muskets and go into
these forts instead of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery who
are going home, they being but one-year men.

Chattanooga, Sunday, May 21. A very pleasant day and I
feel pretty well. Inspection at 9 A. M., Lieut. A. Sweet in
charge. Much surprised to hear that Captain Hood has ten-

[338]

1865] THE NATIONAL CEMETERY

dered his resignation, and it has been returned accepted. Ex
pects to leave soon for home. Waited anxiously for the arrival
of the mail this morning, but was sadly disappointed. "Wrote
two long letters notwithstanding, before dinner, one to brother
John, my ever faithful weekly correspondent, the other to Sis
ter Hannah at Albion. Have not received a word from her
this month. I fear she has overtaxed herself again by arduous
study.

After dinner Griff and I took a walk to the National Ceme
tery. Oh, lovely but sacred spot to him who loves the cause of
freedom. It is an enclosure of about sixty acres, surrounded
by a substantial stone fence in a circular form, it being a slop
ing hill. The ground is divided off into circular sections,
walks macadamized, graves sodded over, and flowers and trees,
cultivated, graves systematically arranged in rows. Here lie
thousands of the brave defenders of their country's flag, a few
with neatly-carved marble slabs bearing name and regiment,
but most of them were only identified by a rough, pine board
fast decaying, and in a few more months nothing will be left
to mark the place where the honored ashes lie. Could the peo
ple North who have friends lying here but know that the gov
ernment is doing all in its power to make this beautiful and
permanent would they not at once see that a marble slab would
be placed over the earthly remains of those dear ones that are
gone before? I believe so. Here were many of the Chicka-
mauga heroes, and those who fell in the memorable battles of
Mission Ridge and Chattanooga. Amongst them I noticed a
large number of our brave comrades of the 3rd Division, 15th
Army Corps, who fell in the fearful vortex of the battle on
Tunnel Hill. Here also we found a neatly-printed board,
marking the resting place of Robert Banks, who a few weeks
ago was full of hilarity amongst us; and lately, I suppose, the
last of poor Uncle Harden has been consigned to rest in the
lovely spot, the most attractive cemetery I have seen under
government [control.] But we could not find his name. Long

[339]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

we searched for the grave of my old schoolmate, Amandus
Silsby, who died from wounds received at Kenesaw, but could
not find it.

Chattanooga, Monday, May 22. Heavy rains last night. Fair
day. Reveille sounded before four. Were on the drill ground
before 6 A. M. for brigade drill, but the ground being so wfet,
we were sent back without drilling any. Three of us with two
hatchets reported at Captain Nicklin's headquarters for duty;
he sent us on top of his house to fix the roof where it was leak
ing very badly on wife's carpets. We were no mechanics and
I fear did the job very poorly. This is the way they find work
for us to do, now that there is nobody to fight. Very conven
ient, I suppose they think.

After noon went out to the hills grazing. The cherries in
the orchard were in fine condition, nice and ripe. Several of
us enjoyed a rare treat, left many behind because we could not
eat them all. Haywood of our tent gone to the hospital quite
sick. Just left home and is downhearted.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, May 23. Hot day, feel very well.
Morning papers tell us the road is washed away, and no mail
expected for two or three days. We'll get all the more when
it does come, I guess.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, May 24. On guard last night on
post No. 3. Battery went on brigade drill under Lieutenant
Sweet, who is now in command of the Battery. Hood is a cit
izen and preparing to go away. Jenawein has received his
first-lieutenant appointment, but refuses the seniority. The
sickness increasing very rapidly. Diarrhea prevalent.

Chattanooga, Thursday, May 25. Drilled two hours in bat
tery drill, and when we returned, received a large mail which
was long looked for. I received two which assured me that all
was well.

[340]

1865] ONE OF UNCLE SAMS FACTORIES

After dinner M. U. Hungerford and myself procured a pass,
and started to visit the U. S. rolling mill about st mile and a
half distant. On our way we ascended Cameron Hill, an ele
vation about 400 feet above the river. The river side being
very steep, an interesting view is to be seen from here. Three
large steamships on this side, eight steamboats lying up for re
pairs over on the docks. Beyond the river cultivated fields look
very beautiful. On these hills are three large reservoirs of the
Chattanooga water works into which the water is pumped by
steam, and carried by its own weight down into the town. Also
a large magazine 200 feet long which will be used long after
peace is established. On the crown of the hill is a grim-looking
war-dog, a 100-pounder Parrott weighing 7,286 pounds, 6.4 inch
caliber, maintained on wrought iron carriage, manned by the
1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery. The guard anxiously inquired
if we were not ordered to relieve them so they could go home.
Poor fellows!

Now we descended the western slope, and soon found our
selves approaching the center of attraction. The fires were
down in most of the furnaces, the workmen at work relining
them, but the sight was an interesting one to me, and we could
easily trace the process clear through. Old bent-up rails were
cut into pieces by a mammoth pair of shears, bundled together,
thrown into the furnace, and rolled out into plates six inches
wide, half an inch thick. This was cut into pieces about four
feet long, six of them put together, heated, and after putting
them through four different rolls, came out as a rail for the
steam horse of progression to run upon. Two mammoth saws
sawed off the ends, leaving it thirty feet long. It was astonish
ing to find how little human force was needed in the prosecu
tion of this great work. The engine is encased in a glass house,
and as nicely polished as parlor furniture. A dreary rain
came up, and we got partially wet before reaching camp, which
we did in time, and fell in for afternoon drill.

[341]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [ises

Chattanooga, Friday, May 26. Health good. Battery drill
from 6 A. M. to 8 A. M., only three cannoneers in second detach
ment. A big mail when we returned, though none for Jenk.
Ambulance went up to the artillery garden this morning and
returned with the first fruits of "Charlie's" work, viz. a co
pious supply of lettuce and mustard salad for dinner and sup
per, a very rare treat, and highly appreciated. Did us more
good than all the medicine in the dispensary.

Grazing in the afternoon. Went near the hill, a party of
about a dozen. Knowing where the nice ripe cherries grew,
started for the orchard; but behold, we were confronted by a
lanky specimen of the refined chivalry, much excited, repeat
ing the orchard was his and threatening to call his safeguard
if we did not leave. We told him to bring him on and we
would respect him, but he could not. Boasted of protection
papers of Thomas, Steedman and many others in his pockets,
but could produce only a few old Gazettes. We talked the man
crazy. He used many insulting terms under the license of old
age, but we, provoked by his attempts to deceive us, made for
the cherries and filled ourselves with the rarest of his cherries,
but left more than he ever can use, twenty-five acres of them.
When we were satisfied, he returned with an old torn piece of
paper of Rosecrans's times. We of course respected it and
left. He threatened to follow us in and report us, [and]
mounted his mule for it. Two or three of the boys staid be
hind and convinced the old rebel that prudence was the better
part of valor, so he staid at home, I guess. It is raining this
evening severely.

Chattanooga, Saturday, May 27. It is cool enough to appre
ciate the fire in our "wee" stove until breakfast. Then it
grew hot, while we drilled two hours in the morning. Camp
thoroughly policed, I delegated to cook our mustard greens for
dinner. Had a fine mess, at least it appeared to be well rel
ished. Heard from sister Jane in her new capacity. She ap-

[342]

1865] A REBEL ORCHARD

pears to like it well. She writes an interesting letter and will
make her mark in the world if she lives.

Captain Hood is busily at work on his final returns. I un
derstand that he will come out all right. Lieutenant Sweet our
young and grave commander now is gathering up much of the
useless ordnance and quartermaster stores lying around, pre
paratory to turning them over.

Chattanooga, Sunday, May 28. On guard since last night.
Wrote three letters to-day between times, think I have done well.
Preaching in camp this morning. Our officers attended as well
as nearly all the men, a striking evidence of the force of example
when shown by those whom we respect. Received a short letter
from John, sorry that he thought my speedy arrival home so
certain as to warrant its brevity.

After dinner Capt. T. R. Hood took an affectionate leave of
the Company with which he has been connected ever since its
first organization. He left for home to resume the duties of a
civilian. He first visited each man in his quarters. With tear
ful eyes he shook hands. He goes with many kind regards from
those he once commanded.

Chattanooga, Monday, May 29. Early breakfast this morning.
On drill ground by 6 A. M. Brigade drill of five horse batter
ies. All passed off well. Grazed in the afternoon. Did not go
out to the cherry orchard. Orders awaiting our return to police
camp thoroughly, as somebody is expected by the morning train
to inspect us. Everything still. "Grape vine" quiet. Cor
poral J. S. Vedder starts for Nashville as clerk to headquarters
D. C. One from each battery in the reserve. Health is not
above par, though not sick. Feel dull, but am yet able to crush
considerable hard-tack.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, May 30. Up bright and early, policed
around the stables, "blacked boots" and brushed up our brass,
etc. But no inspection came, so all of this is in vain. Cool day,

[343]

AN ARTILLERYMANS DIARY

did but little. Drew a day's rations of soft bread, which is
getting to be a rarity. The cry of ''paymaster coming" is again
raised in camp. Our sutler gone to Nashville for a supply of
goods on the strength of it. Several hundred dismounted men
of Wilson's Cavalry Corps and of 1st Wisconsin came in on the
evening train. The entire command is expected here to-mor
row. They have seen much work lately.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, May 31. Had a pleasant drill with
the Battery this morning. No mail, but much grape-vine news
via "picket rope line", but we have not started for home yet.
Drew the "last" forage for the 10th time. Drilled an hour
and a half over some dismantled pieces. Bathed in the Tennes
see in the evening.

Chattanooga, Thursday, June 1. This day is appointed by the
President of the United States as a day of mourning for our
honored Lincoln. All business stopped in town. Nothing only
heavy duty to be done in camp, consequently we had little to
do.

After dinner, hearing that Wilson's Cavalry were moving
through town, I obtained permission to leave camp. Being
anxious to see the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry and find Johnny Evans
if possible. Beached there as the 2nd Division was moving up
Market Street, They presented a rich scene for Harper's Illus
trated, nearly the wrhole company were astride mules of all
sizes and descriptions, the men having but a small portion of the
blue on. Anyone would take them for the Confederate States
Army. The majority dressed throughout in coarse dirty grey,
and often a pair of faded shoulder straps could be seen resting
on the shoulders of one in rebel grey and gilt. Then came the
negroes, pack mules, carrying anything from a frying pan to a
condemned ordnance. Vehicles of chivalric origin drawn by
horseflesh, minus the flesh, in silver-mounted harness, and driven
by the veritable "peculiar institutions", for whom our Southern
brethern buckled on their armor. It needed but Jeff in crino-

[344]

1865] A CHRISTIAN COMMISSION FLIRTATION

line bringing up the rear, to show the last of the said chivalry.
McCook 's Division in which is 1st Wisconsin Cavalry was behincL
After waiting long I found that they were not coming in to-night
so I started home, but not until hearing from one of his comrades
that Johnny was all right and well.

To-nigh i". I am on another eight hours tread, not to break the
rebellion, but my time of serving.

Chattanooga, Friday, June 2. Friday morning drilled with
Battery for two hours. Very hot indeed. Big mail came in. I
received three letters, one of them from Miss Sue J. B. of Ohio,
of which I must write before it gets later. About a month ago
I obtained a Ladies' Repository with some other magazines from
the Christian Commission, on which was written a note with the
above address annexed. Thought it no more than justice to
thank the donor, and assure her that their efforts were duly
appreciated by the soldier. Contrary to my expectations I re
ceived an answer requesting a reply, which of course I complied
with at some length, giving personal description. And so here
comes two sheets to-day. I think she is a " Methodist sister ' ' in
the habit of itinerating with her brother, a minister. She for
got to give her age, notwithstanding I gave her mine, conse
quently I infer she is an old maid. Not very highly accomplished
in letter writing, but a good composer and a fine use of language
and a vivid conception of the beautiful. Seems to have received
a very favorable impression of me. I did not attempt it. I
have revolutionized her ideas.

Chattanooga, Saturday, June 3. A hot day for drill in the
morning. 1st Division Cavalry Corps lying in camp near Mission
Ridge. David Evans went outside and brought in Johnny Evans,
looking very fleshy and healthy, natural as ever, but much
larger. He staid with us all day. Went home late in the even
ing. He has seen the elephant, although only in for one year
service. I think it has improved him, instilled some wholesome
ideas in his mind. Policed camp as usual. No orders for mus-

[345]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1865

tering out any of us yet. Rations are very objectionable these
days, and cause much dissatisfaction as circumstances do not
demand such living. But it will not be long.

Chattanooga, Sunday, June 4. Inspection 8 A. M. after which
Griffith having a pass for three men to pass through the lines,
D. J. D. and myself started out. Went by the 1st Cavalry camp
which was about three miles down the valley, found Johnny and
started forth along the ridge. Found many ripe blackberries
and had all we wanted of ripe cherries from the "old man's"
orchard. Then we climbed the memorable ridge and followed
the summit of Tunnel Hill. Then retraced our steps to camp.
Passed Charlie's artillery garden. Looks well, everything kept
for the benefit of the shoulder straps of the reserve, though.
The privates for whose benefit they claim to have started it, are
forgotten. Left Johnny at the picket post, he to his command
and we to ours. Reached camp by 5 P. M. somewhat tired but
well satisfied with the ramble of the day. Cannot write to
John, though. I am sorry.

Chattanooga, Monday, June 5. All well. No drill. Orders
from Mendenhall to graze from 9 A. M. till 5 P. M., an idea which
is preposterous, as the horses would scatter over the whole state
if not held. J. G. Simpson, officer of the day. His watch ran
slow while in camp, and then it went a-whirring. Started out
about 10 A. M., dinner in haversack, crossed the ridge, turned
out in a delightful nook among the hills, shady and cool, ate our
hard-tack by the cooling spring, and returned to camp by 2 P. M.
Drew clothing. Hope it is the last time for me. Wrote two
long letters. Am tired.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, June 6. A short foot drill in the
morning. On guard at night. Has been an awful hot day. A
good deal of " muster-out talk." Lieutenant Simpson received
a captain's commission this morning. No one dissatisfied.

[346]

1865] AN EXPLOSION

Chattanooga, Wednesday, June 7. Eained a very little last
night but not enough to settle the dust. Battery went out to
drill, I was on post at the time. Johnny Evans called to bid
good-bye, they started for Nashville to-day. Very sultry in
midday. I was allowed to sit in the shade and watch the guns,
an accommodation seldom granted by officers.

Chattanooga, Thursday, June 8. A very hot day. Health
very good. Nothing new, one way or another. Received a letter
from Thomas which he called "last." Expects me home in a
few days. All those whose terms of service expire prior to
October 1, are being mustered out at this post except artillery
reserve. We are treated with silent contempt or provoking
indifference, at least no orders touching us appear.

Chattanooga, Friday, June 9. This afternoon a terrible ex
plosion and fire broke out in town about 1 P. M. The large
building on the levee, filled with artillery ammunition, took fire
from an engine standing by. The reports of bursting shell were
heard continuously, and flames and smoke rolled up with great
fearfulness. I went down in time to see giant flames envelop
400 feet of warehouses, filled with forage and rations, while the
explosions of ammunition, with the fact that a still larger arsenal
laid adjacent, liable to blow up at any moment, caused great
consternation among the citizens, women and children fleeing in
dismay. But the military were cool and on the ground. Guards
spread all over town taking in all within their reach to work
on the fire engines. Assembly sounded in all the camp, and the
reserve artillery, as indeed all others needed, marched down en
masse. I followed the 6th. We reached the river bank, one
engine playing on one end of the military bridge, which was in
imminent danger of taking fire, another working on the roof of
the brick arsenal containing 750,000 tons of small ammunition.
Strings of men passing buckets. We were double quicked under
the fiery breath of the burning machine by Alby Sweet, and set
to work on the double-decker water engine. We were playing

[347]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1865

on the arsenal not five rods distant, the heat so great that the
water was dried before it ran off. Had the wind wavered a
little, nothing could have saved it, and with all probability most
of us would have been hurled into eternity. But luckily we were
saved, notwithstanding the shells were still exploding over us.
No one was hurt.

And now I come to another sorrowful page in my diary.
"When the imminent danger was over and the names somewhat
checked, some officers, prompted by the devil or some other de
mon, ordered whiskey barrels rolled out, and the heads knocked
in around the engines. And oh, what a change. The strong
arms of men working in sober earnestness were stopped by the
deadly fires of poisonous drugs termed whiskey, the air rent with
yells and oaths, fit only for pandemonium. This to me was
heartsickening, and as soon as we could evade the guards, Milt.
Hungerford and myself came to camp.

About 5 P. M. the others came, but oh, what a sight. Eight
or ten raving maniacs. They were not habitual drunkards, many
of them heretofore strictly temperate, but under the excitement
and heat lost their discretion. Ah! what pain it would have
given the loving mother to see her son, her pride, the youth of
the family, staggering through our camp in this condition or
filled with madness. What chagrin to the loving maiden to see
her idol as I did to-night. What agony in the heart of the wife
it would awaken to see the husband of her bosom and the father
of her children, who but a few months ago only left home with
the vow of fidelity to principle and home upon his lips, reeling
along or being carried an insensible lump to his bed. Oh, ye
Christian churches and temperance lodges, how have thy mem
bers disgraced thee to-day. Really, my faith in human nature
becomes somewhat shaken by such scenes.

Late in the evening another explosion took place among the
ruins. A fragment struck John Stewart in the head. Our Bat
tery kept away.

[348]

1865] THE SOLDIER AND REVIEWS

Chattanooga, Saturday, June 10. A cloudy sultry day. In
vain did we await the coming of a cool refreshing shower which
would settle the dust and make us all feel younger; "nary" a
drop fell. Drew forage. On duty loading hay in the afternoon.
Camp policed, etc. The exciting scenes of yesterday have fur
nished the subject of conversation to-day and happily "grape
vine" is forgotten. The inebriated look very sheepish and a-
shamecl to-day. Well they might. Seven thousand bales of hay
were destroyed yesterday. $250,000 to $500,000 of property
destroyed in all. Eight lives lost. One woman broke both arms,
many soldiers wounded.

Chattanooga, Sunday, June 11. Sultry and oppressive wea
ther. Rain still keeps at a distance. The day has passed very
quietly. It was with difficulty that I managed to scribble a sheet
to Sister Hannah. Read several old numbers of Cincinnati
Commercial giving glowing accounts of the grand reviews at
Washington, a brilliant thing I have no doubt, but I rather think
unpleasant to the soldier. If the lookers-on thought of how the
soldier boy would return to camp to munch his "hard-tack" and
"sow belly" notwithstanding he has finished up the rebellion,
while the pleased spectator returned to his hot biscuit and et
ceteras — fewer flowers and more good eating, I say.

Chattanooga, Monday, June 12. On guard since last night.
Sat quietly in the shade and listened tamely to the wild reports
flying, although nobody, except a few yearlings, believed any of
them. It is amusing to see what keen interest the arrival of an
orderly or the sight of an official envelope excites amongst us.
The fact of it is, one day of "muster-out talk" and idleness with
apparent uselessness to the government, will create more home
sickness than a year of war and active service.

Orders directing us to clean harness, etc., preparatory to turn
ing over. Inspection announced at 2 P. M. Camp swept, clothes
brushed and buttons polished, then it was postponed to 6.30 P. M.
Rained, but it stopped long enough to be inspected by Captain

[349]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Nicklin, assistant inspector general, known better in camp as
"Jack o' Clubs", not liked too well.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, June 13. Rained a refreshing shower
through the night and I slept very sound. Several squads out
blackberrying. They are getting ripe. I forgot to tell you that
we had blackberry pie last night. One-year men and we '62
recruits are getting wrathy. The orders that reach all other
commands except the reserve ought to take us, we think, muster
ing out all men where term of service expires prior to October 1.
One of our boys saw the General to-day. But who cares. I am
not so badly excited over this matter, but that I can rest well.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, June 14. Another very hot day.
No drill of any kind. The other batteries go out every morning.
Our officers are very easy on the boys at present. 6th Battery
has changed commanders again. Simpson was mustered in this
morning as captain and Jenawein as first lieutenant. This
leaves a vacancy for second lieutenant soon to be filled by -
I suppose. If he will be appointed it will cause much dissatis
faction among the men for he is not liked in the least. No
"grape-vine" excitement to-day. "What is to happen?

Chattanooga, Thursday, June 15. Breakfast passed as usual.
Charlie Pickard and myself procured a blackberry pass, and
armed each with a tin pail, set out while it was yet cool, and we
walked fast. We followed the old Georgia Railroad out into
Chickamauga Valley, passed the vineyard which we tugged
through on the 25th of November, 1863, under the rebel fire.
The scene looked very natural, but the houses used as hospitals
close by are burnt down, fences repaired and crops growing.
Here we conversed with a negro, once a slave but now a free man.
When "Massa run, aha," he staid behind, and has forty acres
of good corn planted and cultivated by himself for his own bene
fit. We saw many others industriously engaged for the welfare

[350]

1865] RELIGION IN THE MOUNTAINS

of self and family. What better proof need we have than this
that the negro will support himself.

Here we found plenty of berries, but not many of them ripe
yet, so we marched on, struck Chickamauga Creek, followed it
about half a mile to the ferry, when cries and shrieks fell upon
our ears, evidently a woman in great agony. Our minds were
readily carried back to the time when such cries were often ex
torted from the poor slaves by the cruel hand of the master.
And could it be possible that such a scene was being enacted in
this valley now under the very eye of the power that had abol
ished it? It seemed incredible, yet we feared it, and we hastily
turned our steps in the direction of the sound. As we approach
ed, it still became more hideous and different voices could be
discerned. Up high on the hill we at last discovered the place
whence the noise proceeded, from a rough log negro hut. Pass
ing a neat white house about fifty rods below the shanty, we were
informed of the cause by a woman unconcernedly smoking her
pipe. She "reckoned they were shouting up there". A little
suspecting the cause, yet we were bent on investigation. We
met a young woman on the way with long, flowing disheveled
hair, looking very much excited.

Charley asked "What's the row up there?"

"An old 'oman 'fessed 'ligion* this morn' ".

Now we are at the door, and such a sight I never saw before.
Here two large negro women and two young white girls, 16 and
17 years old about, from all appearances raving maniacs, still
screeching, yelling, jumping, hugging, dancing, crying, shaking
hands, and uttering incoherent sentences, foaming at the mouth,
with perspiration rolling down their cheeks in streams. No
cessation, but each making as much noise as though a dagger was
at their hearts. The spell appeared to be partially broken upon
one of the girls seeing us. She stopped, looked at us with a
mesmeric glare for a few minutes, then shrunk sheepishly into
a corner, where she remained quietly until her sister (I suppose)
returned to her from covering the negro woman, and commenced

[351]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

violent demonstrations, such as bumping her head against the
wall, etc. until both soon moved.

We looked on thus for over half an hour. I was filled with
amazement and sometimes provoked to laughter. I had heard of
such excitement in revival meetings where enthusiastic preachers
amd brethren were at work, working up the imagination of the
victim. But to find it in such a sequestered place with but four
solitary women was such as I never dreamt of. The superstitious
character and education of the negro caused me to wonder less at
them than the white girls, which looked awful. But when I
remembered the unconcern of the people in the white house, I
concluded it was nothing strange after all for these ignorant
people (for I consider it nothing but ignorance of the true stand
ard of the human soul).

A revival is going on there, it seems, and the old woman said
God had been allowing her to go on in her "devilment'' for a
long time, but this morning ' ' Jesus stood right squar ' in her way
and she found him right in the chair," and then again she
started. The girls I suppose came to see her and were taken with
the influence. I felt it my duty to do what I could to restore
these poor creatures to their senses, and believe if I had entered
the room and spoken firmly to them in earnest, the spell would
be broken and the excitement quieted.

But modesty prevented me from making the experiment, and
we went on in quest of berries. Found plenty of beautiful ones
in a field adjoining, and we soon filled our pails and started for
camp in another direction. The shouting which we heard a mile
away at first, still continued while we were within hearing.
Beached camp before 2 P. M. tired and very warm, having
walked at least fourteen miles, well pleased with our success at
berrying. Told our story of the revivalists in camp, which
caused much amusement. I shall always consider it as one of
the greatest psychological phenomena.

Chattanooga, Friday, June 16. Eained heavy last night.
Called out at 4 A. M. to harness up before breakfast. Out to

[352]

1865] BLACKBERRIES ONCE MORE

drill immediately afterwards. Captain Simpson put us through
the maneuvers for the first time, drilled us accurately with
mechanical precision, but he is not loud enough, will never make
a good drill master, but will do. Feasted on blackberry pie
and sauce from yesterday's picking. On guard to-night. Oh,
dear!

Chattanooga, Saturday, June 17. Another battery drill this
morning ; did not go out, being on post. Awful hot. My weekly
letters from home have ceased their coming, owing to their
expectations of my arrival home. This is making a bad matter
worse. Two men received sick furloughs, start to-morrow.

Chattanooga, Sunday, June 18. To-day has passed like a hun,
dred others which I have endeavored to note down in my diary.
How can I find anything to individualize this day from others,
the same mechanical duties, the same lazy nothing to do. The
evening closes over us into night quietly. The very atmosphere
seems an earnest voice. Discussion is not heard nor the merry
laugh of the jester. The soldiers group together under the arbor
in front of the quarters, conversing in an undertone of services
rendered, hardships endured, and of brave comrades who are
no more. With a thoughtful sigh for home and friends I close
the book.

Chattanooga, Monday, June 19. Grazing day. Started out
8 A. M., crossed the ridge and way out to Chickamauga1. Grazed
horses on our way back. Made a flank movement on a magni-
ficient patch of dewberries and blackberries. Ordered by our
superior officer to "go in". We tied our horses and fulfilled
our orders to the letter. Those who had buckets, filled them,
those who didn't, did better, staid there an hour. I ate long
after berries had ceased to be a luxury. Reached camp 2 P. M.
20th Indiana Battery Heavy Artillery turned their guns over
to-day. Has the good work begun?

23 [ 353 I

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY [1865

Chattanooga, Tuesday, June 20. Drill early. Returned to
get four letters, one from sister Jane, tugging bravely on amidst
her sixty-four pupils. The next from Hannah, jubilant at the
immediate prospect of relief from her confinement. Third from
J. L. Bugs are threatening crops, too bad. Fourth, from Miss
B. of Ohio, the " J" in her name converted to "Jones". Judges
I am a "literary gentleman", declares she looks with more
anxiety for my letters than any other, ha! ha! Keep calm,
keep calm!

On duty drawing forage. Topic of the day, 20th Indiana
Battery going home, guns and horses, etc. turned over. This
is looked upon as an opening for the reserve, it being a '62
organization, but it was sent for directly from the State.
Other batteries cleaning up harness, etc.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, June 21. Griff, D. Evans and my
self have contracted for a two days ' pass from Captain Simpson,
I was excused from guard last night, and this morning 7 A. M.,
after morning drill, we started out on a bold pedestrian excur
sion to Lookout Mountain and Lula Lake. Two days' rations
of hard-tack and sugar and cup in haversack was all equipage
taken along. The "King of Day" came down upon us in full
force, but nothing daunted we scaled the point in its precipitous
and direct route. Pantingly we reached the photograph gallery
and rested. Seized with a sudden desire to carry off some me
mento of our excursion, we seated ourselves on the cliff and had
ourselves taken, by the sun. Carried off our plate picture for
$6.50, and on to Lula through Summer Town, and camp of the
"Butterfly Brigade" who were all out drilling in their white
gloves.

Our tramp along the summit of the mountain was a pleasant
walk of about eight miles, slightly undulated and timbered with
a stunted growth of oaks, with an occasional house and patch of
corn. Here as everywhere, enterprising Uncle Sam has his saw
mills, shingle machines, etc. But here abruptly amid rocky

[354]

1865] MOUNTAIN SCENERY

scenes, craggy cliffs, we came to a precipice, and beneath us was
Lula Lake. A wooden flight of stairs led us down about forty-
five feet and on a level with this lake, which was certainly a
diminutive thing, but a thing of great loveliness in its wild
beauty. My pen is altogether too tame to give an adequate de
scription of this romantic mountain scenery. The lake consists
of a circular basin about thirty yards in diameter hollowed out
of the solid rock which rises forty to eighty feet around the wall
carved by the skillful hand of nature. The water rushes in at
the top, down in a cascade at an angle of forty-five degrees.
The margin is solid rock. There lay a; frail raft by the shore
on which we each in our turn circumnavigated the lake, causing
the swallows in the rocks to fly away in consternation at this
abrupt entrance on their solitude. This spot seemed to harve a
sweet solitude, and I almost wished myself an Indian to live and
die amidst such scenery.

Climbing the rocks on the south of the stream we worked our
way down to the Lula Falls, several hundred yards below. "We
found the declivity thickly covered with a rich growth of laurel,
and fine specimens of huckleberries, which were ripe and nice.
We picked our cans full as we went. After climbing down a
great many breakneck places we reached the foot of the falls
which in beauty is equal, if not superior, to the Lake. It
consists of a tiny stream falling from a shelf eighty feet high,
perpendicularly dropping over solid rock. In its descent it is
broken into a white sheet of spray. We slaked our thirst and
mashed our berries in sugar, and ate our dinner with a keen
relish. Before leaving, desiring to experience the sensation, we
stripped and took a huge shower bath by placing ourselves under
the spout. Found the sensation more romantic than pleasant.
It fell too hard, but made us clean.

The water continued in an eastward direction, and we reasoned
that by following it we would come out into Chattanooga Valley
and off Lookout Mountain. For a distance of about two miles,
we followed this rocky chasm. On either side towering cliffs

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

reared their heads a hundred feet above us, while we clambered
over massive piles of stone, jumping across crevices, crawled
and slid, etc., making our locomotion in a very odd way, the
creek half the time whirling unseen beneath the rocks. This
was hard work, and our shirts were wringing with sweat, yet
all enjoyed it, at least I did.

But by climbing a little raise we at last found ourselves in
quiet Chattanooga Valley, ten miles from town, and about 4
P. M., seated 'neath the trees, we picked blackberries. Made
sauce for supper again, then walked leisurely toward camp.
This valley is good land and well settled. We saw good fields
of corn, etc. but little signs of war. The people are the same
ignorant, illiterate class. These people seem to have no idea
;as to distances whatever, showing their general ignorance for
cibly. A woman told us "it was a heap o' distance" to Chat
tanooga; "A right smart ways" to dry valley; "A good
chance" to the next house: "Only a bit" to the spring. As
night drew on we felt our fatigue and we sought shelter. Asked
one man for the privilege of lying down on his porch out of
the dew, but he said he "never made a practice of keeping no
one", so we concluded to bivouac with a small squad of negro
soldiers who were out logging. Having traveled at least fifteen
miles we could rest anywhere.

Chattanooga, Thursday, June 22. Daylight found us snoring
away in a most ridiculous condition, wallowing in the sand
around the negroes' fire, but I had a good night's rest. We
pulled out early, breakfasted on blackberries, hard-tack and
cold water from the spring, then made for camp. It was very
hot before we reached it, by 9 A. M. Tired indeed, but of the
many excursions of the kind I have participated in, I never en
joyed one better.

But things had changed wonderfully while we were gone.
Camp in an uproar. Before I entered the tent, a two-months'
furlough was thrust in my face, of one of our boys disapproved

[356]

1865] LAST SUNDAY IN CAMP

at Thomas ?s headquarters, because it is said light artillery
would soon be mustered out. This they thought was convinc
ing evidence that we are homeward bound. Yesterday's mail
brought Keeler's commission as second lieutenant, and before
night he was mustered in. To-day he wears the straps in all
his dignity, officer of the day. Can't touch him with a ten
foot pole. Quartermaster Sergeant Malish promoted to first
sergeant, Hiram James quartermaster sergeant and M.. Dzie-
wanowski reinstated as first gun sergeant. The latter gives
much satisfaction. Lieutenant "Waite and his remnant of the
3rd Wisconsin Battery reported here this morning to be con
solidated on orders dated in May. Owing to recent orders
Captain Simpson will not receive them. They have gone into
4 'pup tents."

Chattanooga, Friday, June 23. After a good night's rest, I
feel very tired yet. It will take some time to get over the ef
fects of that tramp. Some batteries are cleaning up ordnance,
etc. The reserve is gradually dissolving. The command will
undoubtedly go home together when it goes at all. Assistant

Inspector General inspected all our condemned goods,

knapsacks and Company property.

Chattanooga, Saturday, June 24. A dull, quiet morning un
til 9 A. M. when I was ordered to the guard house for duty.
Three of us reported there. We were to guard prisoners to
work 011 the road leading to water. Kanouse took them out two
hours before noon; reported at camp for dinner. After dinner
laid in guard house all day. Relieved at night by officer of the
day, having done nothing. No great stir.

Chattanooga, Sunday, June 25. Another Sabbath has been
added to the long list of those passed in a soldier's camp, in
the same listless, irreverent way. But now that I am once
more on the eve of a change, my mind is more reconciled to
camp. In contrast, many times during the day have I thought

• [357]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY [1365

of my home which I have never seen. Fancy has a wide range
to build my ideal home, and then place the inmates who are
anxiously waiting for Jenk's return. Wrote a letter to John
and that is all.

Homeward Bound

Chattanooga, Monday, June 26. That for which we have so
long waited, for which so many hard words hare been uttered
because of its long delay, for which so many officers have been
roughly abused for its being withheld — We are ordered to the
States. To be mustered out. Hurrah ! ! Hurrah ! ! !

Boys went out grazing as usual this morning. 9 A. M. here
comes an orderly which set the Captain a-jumping, Lieutenants
a-crowing and privates run wild. In less time than it takes
to write, all hands, cooks and negroes included, were at work
cleaning off the guns so that they will be received by ordnance
officers. Water, brush and rags and every available cleanser
used until they would pass. Boys came in with horses at noon
and another stock of good feelings passed around. Afternoon
well spent in cleaning, counting and gathering harness and other
stores. Commence turning them over to-morrow. Never since
we last threw up works in front of the enemy, did the boys
work with such a will. All past grievances forgotten in pleas
ant anticipations of the future.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, June 27. Daylight found us in our
boots and stirring. 7 : 30 A. M. the Battery moved out follow
ed by battery wagons, forge and four wagon loads of ordnance.
I on detail along. Ordnance officer ready to receive us. Lieu
tenant A. Sweet superintended the counting of everything by
the clerk, which is a very tedious job. Captain Simpson dis
posed of ammunition. I was on duty with Lieutenant Sweet
and rode fast and heavy as orderly for him, bringing reports,

[358]

1865] GOING HOME

etc. to and from camp. To-night everything is gone except the
horses, which will be turned over to-morrow.

Great anxiety is expressed by all to reach home by the
Fourth of July, which at present looks very probable. Camp
looks forlorn and disorganized, everything upside down, boxes
being made to be carried by express, knapsacks packed as
though there was no time to do it to-morrow, but nobody notices
it. All of the reserve are under home orders to-day. Fortune
smiled on us this time in being first; aye, it laughed outright
upon us. But, dear Journal, I cannot write, I feel too good.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, June 28. It is evening and the
great work of turning over is accomplished in spite of lazy
quartermaster. Through the unceasing efforts of our officers
we are here on the depot platform ready to take the 4 A. M.
train for "Home, Sweet Home." Left our old camp at 6 P. M.
in high glee, and departed with hearty demonstrations for the
Old Guard House where we all suffered from military agony.
Captain Nicklin, inspector general, who has often been abused
and everybody else received his portion of "big injun tigers' ',
etc. But I must go to sleep.

Chattanooga, Thursday, June 29. Aroused from our out-of-
doors slumbers by the familiar notes of the old bugle at 3 A. M.
Washed, and got aboard, and started 4 A. M. exactly. Ran
very quietly and on time to Decherd, Tenn., which we reached
by 12 M. Here we changed engines. Took an engineer un
scrupulous and drunk, who ran the train at a dangerous rate
between stations, then stopping for time and getting more whis
key. At times we traveled at the rate of thirty-five miles to
the hour over a very poor track, in spite of the remonstrance
of our officer. The conductor persisted in allowing him to
draw us through.

Stopped to wood up. Many of the boys got off to pick black
berries which were very plenty. At the instant the signal was
given to start, the drunken brute threw full power on the en-

[359]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

gine, starting up with great suddenness, and we were soon un
der full headway. Poor Frank King was on the ladder be
tween the cars, and he lost his hold and fell on the rails, the
forward trucks of the car I was on, passing over his lower ex
tremities. The shuddering cries of the wounded man pierced
the ears of all on board, and one and all strove to stop the
train, but the engineer instead increased his power. Not un
til the boys locked the brakes so tight that his drive wheels
flew over on the rail, did he stop, and then he made a mad
effort to proceed, wilich resulted in breaking loose towards the
forward end of the train.

Swift feet carried men back to where the unfortunate man
lay. An engineer of the southern train was bathing his tem
ples with water and endeavoring to stay the flow of blood, but
he was gone beyond the power of human skill, his legs badly
crushed and spine injured so that he died in a few moments
without uttering an audible word. The train was backed up
and the corpse put into a vacant car with his bereaved brother
Fred, and we proceeded in the same reckless manner. The
boys by this time were filled with just indignation, and at Mur-
freesboro, as the now perfect demon rushed into the nearest
saloon to imbibe once more of the ''devil's beverage", he was
surrounded by a crowd, rushed out of doors and handled
roughly, pistols were presented, and his life was in jeopardy,
when he said "that he did not care if he killed every d — ."

Captain Simpson and Lieutenant Sturges of Battery E, 1st
Ohio, telegraphed to Nashville the facts, and demanded another
engineer of the conductor, but he refused, so Sergeant Dzie-
wanowski and three or four others of our boys rode on the en
gine to watch him. Ran very well to Lavergne, fifteen miles
from Nashville, when he discovered his boiler was almost dry,
watter all gone. Watered and he was obliged to run the en
gine alone to pump the water into the boiler. Ran down the
track a mile and a half, and came back under all the speed
he could raise. Without letting up struck the train, mashing

[360]

1865] A FINAL TRAGEDY

in the forward cars, and knocking everybody in the train down
nearly. By this time two pistols were fired at the villain, and
a stone struck him on the head. He rushed on for Nashville,
his fireman leaving him to his fate. After some delay another
engine hitched on to us and we proceeded with caution. Five
miles from town we found his engine on the road, he having
taken himself to the woods. Reached depot by 10 P. M. and
slept in the depot.

Louisville Depot, Nashville, Friday, June 30. Before dawn
this morning Davie Evans and myself were aroused from a
heavy sleep to go and watch the corpse of F. King. The body
lay in an old freight car covered with coarse sacks. By it sat
his brother Fred, the only mourner, writing the sad tidings to
their dear ones, whose hearts are bounding in anticipation of
the joyful meeting. Oh, how uncertain are human joys. One
moment of time often turns the brightest picture into a painful
blank. 9 A. M. we started in search of a coffin. Returned at
10:30 A. M. with a rough board one, and the undertaker took
charge of it; his brother even, not allowed to see the cold clay
close over him.

In the meantime the Company had gone into the exchange
barracks a mile distant. Faint for want of breakfast we fol
lowed and procured a good substantial meal, which answered
for both breakfast and dinner. Captain Simpson reported as
ordered to General Thomas. Received instructions to return
the detached men to their command. The 3rd to proceed with
us to the States; the 8th boys must go back to Murfreesboro,
a disappointment to them. Transportation procured. We ex
pect to leave for Louisville 7 : 50 P. M. The 1st Illinois and
Battery E, 1st Ohio, to go along. All are much pleased with
our good luck in getting off so soon. Nashville is the same
as ever, a low-down, demoralized hole.

Soldiers' Home, Louisville, Ky., Saturda}-, July 1. 7 A. M.
We have completed another ride in the dark, of 183 miles.

[361]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY

Rode in second-class passenger cars, very crowded, and no
sleep. Have had a splendid breakfast (for soldiers) at the Sol
diers' Home. Served in a manner which reminds us very for
cibly that we are nearing civilization. Officers are working for
the boys handsomely, will try to get us off 5 A. M. This hall
is a musical one just now; four of the batteries, light artillery
— all going home.

Kokomo, Ind., Sunday, July 2. Crossed the Ohio River yes
terday about noon, into " God's country" as the boys call it.
Said assertion was rendered true, having a good dinner at the
Soldiers' Home. But when they put us in cattle cars two hours
late, to go North, the spirit dampened. Started at 2 P. M.
northward, an extra train, made slow time.

Now we travel through a country never darkened with slav
ery and rebellion. The contrast was very great. I almost
imagined I was transferred into the Elysian fields of mythol
ogy. The fields teemed with golden harvest, grain nearly all
cut, droves of cattle grazed in rich pastures -of tame grass,
pretty little children could be seen gathered around district
school-houses, and sweet girls appeared in neat calicoes with
''nary" a "swab" in their mouths. Above all, we were wel
comed. White handkerchiefs are waved enthusiastically from
every house and hamlet, stars and stripes were thrown out tri
umphantly to the breeze as we passed along, each demonstra
tion drawing forth ringing response from the joyous soldier
boys. At Henryville an entire school of young ladies turned
out to welcome the "extra" train with soldiers, the building
being draped with a large flag. At Seymour a great arch had
been erected over the railway on which was inscribed "Wel
come Home, Brave Soldiers."

Night soon overtook us now. It was 10 P. M. when we ar
rived, sleepy and well shaken, at Indianapolis, of which we
knew no more than to hastily jump into another string of dirty
box cars, and rush on through broken slumbers to Kokomo

[362]

1865] HOME

Junction, where we arrived 5 A. M. Are now waiting for an
engine down from Chicago to take us up.

Soldiers' Rest, Chicago, Monday, July 3. We left Kokomo
8 A. M. and had a very pleasant ride through a beautiful coun
try teeming with good crops, etc. The same cordial welcome
shown as yesterday. Reached this place 5 P. M. last evening
and marched through crowds of inhabitants out to see "the
boys coming home", with a bright new flag proudly floating
in the breeze, to the Soldiers' Rest where we were furnished
a splendid supper by the fair ones of Chicago. Slept where
we might. I rested on depot platform. Have had another
good breakfast, and am impatiently waiting 9 A. M. when the
train leaves for Madison, Wisconsin. Captain Simpson has
telegraphed for permission to let the boys go home and spend
the Fourth.

Home At Last

After almost three years' absence, I found my valley home
at dusk on the third of July, 1865. And what a happy union
it was. Father, mother, sisters and brothers, all together. The
circle unbroken during the terrible three years that had rolled
over us since I parted to try my fate in a soldiers' camp. The
bitter tears of anguish then, were replaced by those of un
bounded joy. All the hardships and privations of my cam
paign were amply repaid at this joyful union.

But three years had brought a change here as well as upon
me. The locks of my aged father were considerably whiter
than when I left. Mother I was rejoiced to find looking so
well. That frail casket which I feared so much could never
see this happy day on earth, has retained its vitality to ai won
derful extent. Thomas, John, Margaret, Mary, Hannah and
Ellen were the same in appearance as when I left, but Jane had
grown from a school girl to the full proportions of a woman,

[363]

AN ARTILLERYMAN'S DIARY j\

and I scarcely could recognize her. The little boys are grown
and much changed, but yet the same.

And this is not all the change. I left them without a place
to call home, but found them situated in a lovely location, a
pleasant house and expanding fields, for which I felt very
thankful. But there was no time left for such thoughts that
evening. Among other kindnesses I had bread and milk.

Spring Green, Tuesday, July 4. A happy day to the happy
family. Fourteen of us filled the old family wagon and crossed
the river to Spring Green where I met several of my Battery
chums. A pleasant picnic passed off here for the benefit of the
soldier boys. It was great gratification to know that our old
friends welcomed us home so cordially. I read the Declaration
of Independence and Reverend Phillips addressed.

Madison, Thursday, July 6. In accordance to orders I re
ported at Madison in company with Sister Mary and Brother
John. Found an officer with great difficulty and was told that
I was not needed until the llth.

Mazomacie, Wis., Monday, July 10. Another family load of
us attended the Equescurriculum [circus] at Mazomanie, in
tending to go into Madison in the evening, but word was sent

that they don't want us till the 13th.

Spring Green, Thursday, July 13. Have been on a two days'
visit amongst my old associates of Spring Green. Was to go
in to Madison from there for my discharge, but they are not
ready now till Monday. So it goes. I am going into the har
vest field to work.

Madison, Monday, July 17. According to orders the 6th Bat
tery was once more together in Madison by 2 P. M. anxious
for the final action which places each upon an equality with
the other. But disappointment appears to be the rule; to-mor
row, 10 A. M., is the time.

; [364]

1865] MUSTERED OUT

Madison, Tuesday, July 18. The rolls have returned with
Lieutenant Colonel Giddings' (mustering officer) signature an
nexed, and the military tie which bound us together as the
6th Battery has ceased to exist.

10 A. M. we assembled once more and in the yard in front
of Captain Simpson's office, in the city of Madison, signed the
final pay rolls, and received the much-coveted scrip "Dis
charge", bearing date of July 18. "Mustered out of United
States service on the 3rd of July". It was not an hour of
noisy demonstration, but happiness too sweet for utterance pre
vails, the emotion of thankfulness filling the dullest breast,
"Free! Free!" was the exclamation of many as they became
possessors of the prizes.

But to me it brought many dark and serious thoughts to
mind. Yes, free, but for the first time in my life I am my
only dictator as to what course to pursue. Have arrived at age
with life's issue fairly before me, and undecided what, course
to pursue. Inclination and duty seem strangely at variance.
The importance of such questions is almost oppressive. But
I must strive to attain the highest good that lies in my power.
The dictates of conscience shall be my guide. To-night I re
trace my steps to my quiet valley home. The many tender ties
which bind me to my comrades of the march, battle and camp,
are more than likely forever broken OIL this earth. And the
diary which I have kept unbroken is hereby ended with the
end of my service, having lived two years and eleven months in
the service of my country. Three of the best years of my life
have been lost to self-instruction, and the plans and hopes of
my childhood have been ruthlessly toppled down, but the time
has not been lost. I have no regrets for the way it has been
spent. My prayer is that the remainder of my life may be as
usefully spent. So, dear Diary, good-bye!

JENK. LL. JONES.

365

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY • [1865

Amount of Pay Received in United States Army

1862.

Aug. 28 Advance bounty at Madison . . . . $25.00

Aug. 28 Premium . . . . . .4.00

1863.

Feb. Pay to 1st Nov. '62 at Memphis . . .33.87

May Pay to 1st Men. '63 at Millikens Bend . . 52.00

June Pay to 1st May '63 at Vicksburg . . .26.00

July Pay to 1st July '63 at Vicksburg . . .26.00

Sept 17 Pay to 1st Sept. '63 at Glendale . . .26.00

Dec. 2 Pay to 1st Nov. '63 at Chattanooga . . .13.15

1864.

Feb. 19 Pay to 1st Jan. '64, at Huntsville . . .26.00

May 24 Pay to 1st May '64, at Huntsville . . 52 . 00

Aug. 5 Pay to 1st July '64, at Etowah . . .32.00

Nov. 6 Pay to 1st Sept. '64, at Etowah . . .32.00

1865.

July 22 Final pay and bounty to 18th of July, 1865 . . 256.95

Total amt. rec'd for service for 2 yrs. 11 months

and 4 days ..... $604.97

Amount of Pay Sent Home

1862.

Aug. 23 Advance bounty at Madison .... $15.00

1863.

Feb. From Memphis . . . . .25.00

May From Millikens Bend . . . . .45.00

June From rear Vicksburg . . . . 20 . 00

July From Vicksburg . . . . .20.00

Sept. 27 From Glendale . . . . . .20.00

Dec. 2 From Chattanooga . . . . .15.00

1864.

Feb. 19 From Huntsville . . . . .20.00

May 26 From Huntsville . . . . .40.00

Aug. 5 From Etowah . . . . . .20.00

Nov. From Nashville . . . . .25.00

1865.

July 22 Final payment at Madison . 180.00

Total amount sent ..... $445.00

[366]

1865]

PRICES

Clothing Drawn

1862.

Aug. 26

1 blanket

Aug. 27

2 pair drawers .

Aug. 27

1 cap

Aug. 27

1 infantry blouse

Aug. 27

1 canteen

Aug. 27

1 knapsack

Aug. 27

1 haversack

Sept. 28

1 shirt .

Oct. 13

1 pair pants

Oct. 13

1 jacket .

Oct. 13

1 hat

Oct. 16

1 overcoat

Nov. 10

1 blanket

Nov. 14

1 shirt .

Nov. 22

1 pair socks

Nov. 30

1 shirt (starched)

1863.

Jan. 14

1 pair pants

Jan. 14

1 cap

Jan. 14

1 canteen

Feb. 4

1 pair of socks .

Feb. 24

1 pair boots (sewed)

June 5

1 poncho

Oct. 22

1 haversack

Oct. 25

1 knit shirt

Oct. 25

1 pair pants

Dec. 16

2 pair drawers .

Dec. 16

1 hat

1864.

Feb. 17

1 cap

Feb. 17

1 pair boots (pegged)

Feb. 17

1 shirt .

Apl. 12

1 pair pants (inf.)

Apl. 12

1 blouse

June 9

1 shirt .

Aug. 9

1 hat

Aug. 9

1 pair shoes

Sept. 10

1 pair pants

Sept. 10

2 shirts .

Sept. 10

1 blanket

Nov. 12

1 pair boots

Dec. 8

1 pair pants

Dec. 8

2 pair drawers .

Dec. 8

1 great coat

1865.

Feb. 6

1 blanket in hospital

Mar. 11

1 jacket

Mar. 11

1 poncho

$2.24

1.42

.57

.32
.78
.39
.90
.87
.17
.05
.62
.24
.90
.24
.90

3.87
.57
.30

.48
1.30
4.60
1.80
1.65

.58
2.12
53
40
12
53
80
64
15
12
60
25

3.15

2.00

10.55

3.60
9.25
5.90

[367]

AN ARTILLERYMAN S DIARY

[1865

May 10 1 blouse

June 5 1 pair boots

June 5 1 shirt .

June 5 1 pair pants

4.80
4.00
2.32
5.90

Price List of Army Clothing from March 3, 1865

Fatigue caps

Hats

Shirts

Drawers

Socks

Boots

Gt. coat

Blankets

Painted ponchos

Rubber ponchos

Jackets

Artillery pants

Blouse

Cross cannon

$1.00
2.25
2.32
1.60
.48
.00
,50
,00
,00
.90
,25

4

14
7,
3,
5.
9.
5.90
4.80
.02

[368

INDEX

ABBEVILLE (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 17, 21.
Abolitionists, views of, 309.

Acworth (Ga.), 80th Ohio at, 238; raids near, 243.
Adairsville (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 225; raid at, 239, 240.
' Adriatic," Mississippi steamboat, 93.

Alabama, inhabitants, 160; view into, 331; Logan in, 263; 6th Wiscon
sin Battery, 112; troops from, 78; 1st Cavalry, 105, 106, 118.
Albion (Wis.), correspondence with, 34, 111; school at, 243; Jones

visits, 339.
Alexander, Col. Jesse I., at Oxford, 20; Buntyn Station, 25; Huntsville,

209; commands expedition, 211, 212.
Allatoona (Ga.), military depot, 262; raids near, 243; troops at, 229,

239, 244, 251; inspection, 266. See also Battles.
"Alone," Mississippi steamboat, 39, 42.
American Messenger, cited, 306.

Amsden, Lieut. Marcus, forages, 124; at Huntsville, 169; Allatcona, 257.
Anderson, Maj. Robert, at Fort Sumter, 322.
"Anglo Saxon," transport, 117.

Anthony (negro), at Oxford, 19; straggler, 223; sermon by, 239.
Arkansas, 6th Wisconsin Battery in, 37.
"Armada," Mississippi steamboat, 39, 45.
ARMIES —

Cumberland, troops in, 125, 130; at Missionary Ridge, 313.

Frontier, troops from, 70, 71.

Potomac, reverse for, 3.

Tennessee, troops from, 130; casualties in, 238; commander, 233;
at Nashville, 272.

Western, commander, 260.

Arnold, Dr. , of 12th Wisconsin Battery, 10, 11.

Athens (Ala.), troops at, 205; troops from, 209.

Atlanta (Ga.), military center, 337; railroad at, 254; Sherman, 246;

15th Corps, 247; 20th Corps, 260; captured, 232-234, 245. See also

Battles.

[369]

INDEX

Atlantic Monthly, mentioned, 39, 68, 186, 309.
Atlantic Ocean, Sherman reaches, 266.
"Autocrat," Mississippi gunboat, 39.

BABCOCK, Byron, sick, 9, 186; portrait, 364.

Bailey, William M., at Buntyn Station, 29.

Baker, Frederick T., wounded, 67, 101; forager, 175.

Ballou's Monthly, cited, 296.

"Baltic," Mississippi gunboat, 39.

Baltimore (Md.), convention at, 218.

Bancroft, Marion L., on furlough, 315, '325.

Banks, Gen. Nathaniel P., reinforces Grant, 61.

Banks, Robert E., death, 324, 339.

Barry, Gen. William F., at Nashville, 302.

Bartlett, Samuel C., sermon by, 196.

Bass (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 304.

BATTLES —

Allatoona, 255-258.

Atlanta, 232, 233, 245, 246.

Champion Hills, troops at, 148, 257; casualties, 174; Me Pherson,
233.

Chattanooga, 148, 339.

Chickamauga, 339.

Corinth, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 7, 8, 48, 101, 148, 255; Missouri
Brigade, 257; casualties, 10, 55.

Dalton, Wheeler at, 239, 240.

Franklin, Hoed at, 279.

Gettysburg, victory, 80.

Grand Gulf, 50, 51.

luka, 6, 7, 257.

Jackson, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 56-59, 148; McPherson, 233.

Kenesaw Mountain, 340.

Lookout Mountain, 136-143, 330, 331.

Missionary Ridge, 136-143, 313, 339; Matthies at, 184; Corse, 256.

Murfreesboro, 26, 285; casualties at, 50.

Nashville, 280-288.

Port Gibson, 51.

Raymond, 55, 148.

Ringgold, 144.

Shiloh, casualties at, 55.

Tunnel Hill, 141-143, 339.

Vicksburg, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 148; McPherson, 233. See
also Vicksburg.

[370]

INDEX

Beauregard, Gen. Gustave T., son of, 144.

Beaver, Corp. Sampson, at Bimtyn Station, 25; Memphis, 28, 31; Hunta-
ville, 206; forager, 120; on furlough, 81.

Beecher, Henry Ward, 322; sermon by, 86, 310.

Bellefonte (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 157, 222.

Benedict, George W., sick, 11; at Memphis, 99; portrait, 129, 364.

Beniczky, K. W., New York photographer, 274.

Bennett, John L., on furlough, 81.

Benoit, Frank, on furlough, 315, 325.

Benson, Bradley, death, 312.

Berger, Christian, portrait, 364.

Bickerdyke, Mary A., army nurse, 191, 192; at Etowah Bridge, 267.

Big Shanty (Ga.), railroad at, 223, 251, 254.

Bird Spring (Ala.), picnic at, 217.

Blair, Gen. Frank J., commands corps, 110, 113, 209; orders fro-in, 214;
at Missionary Ridge, 139.

Blake, B. P., torager, 158; at Dickson Station, 113, 114; Bridgeport,
154, 155.

Bolton, Capt. William H., commands battery, 60. See also Illinois.

Boomer, Col. George B., Vicksburg campaign, 53; killed, 63.

Booth, -— , at Huntsville, 184.

Booth, John W., killed, 328.

Booth, Robert L., sick, 252.

Booth, William H., at Whiteside, 149; mustered out, 252.

Bowen, Gen. John S., at Vicksburg, 76.

Bowman, , forager, 16.

Bragg, Gen. Braxton, in Chattanooga campaign, 269, 329, 331; defeated,
18, 144; retreats, 127, 145.

Brady, Dr. , at Vicksburg, 80.

Breckmridge, Gen. John C., at Corinth, 7.

Brewer, Gen. Richard H., at Chattanooga, 314.

Bridgeport (Ala.), equipments at, 146; submarine mine, 329; Gth Wis
consin Battery, 127-130, 148-156, 224, 270.

Brodhead (Wis.), recruits from, 210.

Brownlow, William G., author, 28, 29.

Brownsboro (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 162, 221.

Bud long, Capt. Syria M., assistant inspector-general, 165, 167, 177, 219,
233.

Buntline, Ned. See Judson, Edward Z.

Euntyn Station (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 24-32, 103.

Burdick, Edgar A., portrait, 364.

[371]

LNDEX

Burnham, Oliver J., at Etov/aa Bridge, 235; Nashville, 276; portrait,

128, 364.

Burnham, William A., portrait, 128.
Burnside, Gen. Ambrose E., news from, 6; in Chattanooga campaign,

145.

Burnsville (Miss.), troops at, 107; 6th Wisconsin Battery, 109.
Butler, Gen. Benjamin P., at Petersburg, 208; Richmond, 209; builds

canal, 321.

Byhalia (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 22; Van Dorn, 26.
Byaess, Henry J., at Buntyn Station, 29; Bridgeport, 152.

CAIRO (111.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 2.

Calkins, Miss. , at Vicksburg, 90.

Calkins, Luman H., discharged, 80.

Calhoun, , home of, 210.

Calhoun (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 225; railroad, 226.

Calvinism, doctrines of, 166, 292.

Cameron Hill (Tenn.), described, 341; artillery at, S22.

Camp Barry (Tenn.), 275, 288; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 278.

Camp Proper (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 128.

Camp Randall (Wis.), recruits at, 179, 182.

Campbell, Coulter, sick, 39; death of, 85.

Campbell, John, discharged, 26.

Campbell, Milton, at Memphis, 23, 33.

Canada, Peace Commissioners in, 234.

Canton (Ga.), expedition near, 261.

Carpenter, David L., promoted, 237; at Chattanooga, 317.

Carpenter, Rollin B., portrait, 364.

Cartersville (Ga.), military center, 240, 268; funeral at, 242; expedition
from, 264; Sherman at, 259; troops, 236, 238; 6th Wisconsin Bat
tery, 229, 243, 284; skirmish near, 234; wounded at, 239.

Carr, Gen. Eugene A., at Vicksburg, 77.

Casper, Silas B., at Etowah Bridge, 238.

Cassville (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 229.

Cedar Mountain (Ala.), Logan at, 263.

Chadwick, Rev. John W., sermon, 312.

Charleston (S. C.), troops from, 57; captured, 309.

Chattanooga (Tenn.), military center, 231, 242, 246, 265, 270, 272, 302;
railroad at, 244, 264; communications with, 128, 129; newspapers
from, 253, 254; sick at, 263; prisoners, 246; 6th Wisconsin Battery,
131-137, 145-148, 180, 224, 269, 303-359, 366; reported evacuated, 124,
Gazette, 234, 319, 342. See also Battles.

[372]

INDEX

Chattanooga Valley, excursion to, 355, 356.

Cherokee County (Ga.), expedition into, 262.

Chicago (111.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 2, 363; convention, 246.

Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, 6th Wisconsin Battery on, 2.

Chickamauga Station (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 144, 145.

Chickasaw (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 115, 117.

"Chillicothe," United States gunboat, 98.

Christian Commission. See United States Christian Commission.

Christian Enquirer, mentioned, 85, 176, 220, 306, 308, 312.

Christian Luminary, cited, 306.

Christmas Day, celebration, 21, 157, 291-293, 295.

Cincinnati Commercial, cited, 349.

"City of Madison," Mississippi steamboat, 87.

"Clara Bell," Mississippi steamboat, 93.

Clark, Lieut. Samuel F., inspecting officer, 35, 81; drillmaster, 114, 217;
orders from, 162; commands expedition, 22, 240, 241; commands
battery, 191; relieved, 250; sick, 182, 183, 189; at Buntyn Station,
25; Byhalia, 22; Chattanooga, 133; Chickasaw, 117; Etowah
Bridge, 247; Germantown, 24; Glendale, 107, 109; Huntsville, 167,
202: Larkinsville, 159; Louisville, 216; Memphis, 100; Nashville,
170; Oxford, 20; Vicksburg, 60, 81, 83, 89, 90; portrait, 250.

Clark, Mrs. S. F., at Memphis, 100; Glendale, 106, 109; Huntsville, 179.

Clinton (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 56, 58, 59.

Cogswell, Capt. William, commands battery, 112, 116, 135, 138, 140, 169,
172, 173, 196, 197, 199, 271. See also Illinois.

Colburn, William, at Memphis, 23.

Colburn, John, substitute, 244.

Coleman, Dr. , at Huntsville, 165, 171.

College Hill (Tenn.), camp at, 301.

Collierville (Tenn.), expedition to, 14, 15; 6th Wisconsin Battery at,
24, 103.

Collins, Rev. Nathan G., army chaplain, 194.

Columbia (S. C.), waterworks at, 166.

Columbus (Miss.), Wisconsin troops at, 30.

Confederacy, supplies for, 123, 132; clothing of, 115; property, 227;
factory, 118; refugees from, 98; scrip, 18; defeated, 77, 268, 291,
319.

Cooper, , county seat of, 235.

Corinth (Miss.), described, 110; hospital at, 7, 191, 220; railroad, 151;
telegraph, 107; troops for, 99, 101; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 9-12,
30, 104; division, 95. See also Battles.

[373]

INDEX

COEPS —

4th, guards railroad, 247; at Chattanooga, 131, 313, 316, 327; at
Etowah Bridge, 260.

llth, in Chattanooga campaign, 129; at Missionary Ridge, 141;
pursues Bragg, 143, 144.

12th, in Chattanooga campaign, 129.

13th (McClernand's), at Vicksburg, 62.

14th, at Etowah Bridge, 260, 268.

15th, commander, 147, 233; medical inspector, 173; orders for, 249;
troops in, 110, 156; recruits for, 210; concentrated, 263; pur
sues Bragg, 143, 145; in Georgia campaign, 317; at Atlanta,
247; Chattanooga, 136; Etowah Bridge, 260; Goldsboro, 325;
Larkinsville, 158; Memphis, 99; Tunnel Hill, 339.

16th (Dodge's), orders for, 100; at Huntsville, 205; Decatur, 219;
Nashville, 277.

17th, orders for, 34; troops in, 156; defeats Forrest, 209; at Hunts
ville, 209, 212-214.

20th (Slocum's), troops in, 125; at Atlanta, 245, 260.

23rd, at Cartersville, 259.

Wilson's Cavalry, at Chattanooga, 344, 345.

For Confederate Corps see names of commanders.
Corse, Gen. John M., at Allatoona, 256, 257.
Covenant, cited, 46, 85, 89, 176, 196, 220.
Cowan Station (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 126.

'CREEKS

Battle, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 127.

Bear, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 111, 112.

Beaver Dam, crossed, 185.

€hickamauga, Gen. Smith at, 136; 15th Corps, 143; 6th Wisconsin
Battery, 144; excursion to, 350, 351, 353.

Clear, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 5, 106.

Herrington's, crossed, 17.

Mud, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 223.

Richland, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 122, 123.

Shoal, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 119.

Sugar, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 121.
Crocker, Gen. Marcellus M., at Huntsville, 209.
Cypress Mills (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 118.

DALLAS (Ga.), retreat towards, 257.
Dalrymple, George D., election clerk, 287.

[3741

INDEX

Dal ton (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 225, 269; skirmish, 228, 239;
reinforcements for, 239; Wheeler repulsed at, 240; surrender, 328,
330. See also Battles.

Danville (Miss.), prisoners captured at, 6.

Davis, Daniel J., sick, 71, 75, 89, 90, 300-303, 312, 313; gift for, 219; at
Bridgeport, 150, 151; Chattanooga, 269, 346; Etowah Bridge, 252,
253; Huntsville, 165, 166, 171, 174, 191, 193, 198; Larkinsville, 160;
Nashville, 263, 275, 291, 292; Whiteside, 149; portrait, 364.

Davis, Ebenezer J., at Vicksburg, 70, 72, 82.

Davis, Jefferson, at Chattanooga, 336; captured, 335, 344.

Davis, Gen. Jefferson C., commands division, 141.

Davis Mills (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 12, 13.

Day, Addison WT., at Buntyn Station, 29; portrait, 364.

Dearburn, A., driver, 18.

Decatur (Ala.), military center, 201; railroad, at, 190, 197, 205; troops,
218; 17th Corps, 214; troops from, 219; skirmish near, 200.

Decherd (Tenn.), railroad station, 359; 6th Wisconsin Battery near,
126.

De Golyer, Capt. Samuel, at Vicksburg, 61.

Demmer, Herman, portrait, 364.

Democratic party, policy of, 153.

"Diana," Mississippi gunboat, 39.

Dickson Station (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 112-115.

Dillon Capt. Henry, drillmaster, 114, 169, 170; inspecting officer, 109,
186, 218, 219, 233; chief of artillery, 165, 245; commands division,
145; orders from, 167, 168; on military court, 177; imposes penalty,
194; on furlough, 34; promoted, 75; at Chattanooga, 135, 147;
Corinth, 8, 10; Buntyn Station, 28; Dickson Station, 113, 115;
Etowah Bridge, 246, 251; Fayetteville, 124; Glendale, 106; Helena,
39, Huntsville, 172, 175, 196; Jackson, 57; Lafayette, 24; Larkins
ville, 160, 161; Memphis, 34, 102; Missionary Ridge, 140; Moscow,
14; Nashville 155; Oxford, 20; Rienzi, 4, 6; Vicksburg, 50, 70, 73, 79;
Whiteside, 149; portrait, 250.

Dixon, Sergt. Edgar P., scout, 26; forager, 243; promoted, 188; on
Yazoo expedition, 42; at Bridgeport, 154; Etowah Bridge, 232, 236;
Graysville, 144; Huntsville, 165, 204, 206, 217; Larkinsville, 158;
Rienzi, 4; Vicksburg, 86; portrait, 250.

Dodge, Gen. Grenville M., commands corps, 205; at Decatur, 219.

Dodge Hollow (Wis.), Jones family at, 29.

Dollins, Col. James J., death of, 63.

Dowden, William H., at Memphis, 99.

"Duke of Argyle," Mississippi steamboat, 46.

[375]

INDEX

Dutch, Lieut. , mustering officer, 328.

Dye, Reason, on furlough, 315, 317.

Dziewanowski, Mikolay, scout, 26; forager, 120; en guard, 360; com
mands expedition, 262; promoted, 250, 357; reduced to ranks, 296;
at Cartersville, 250; Chattanooga, 325; Nashville, 285; Vieksburg,
83; portrait, 250.

EAGION, John C., veteran, 159; promoted, 251.

Early Grove (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 15.

"Eastman," United States gunboat, 98.

Eastport (Miss.), river crossing at, 11G.

"Eclipse," Mississippi steamboat, 99.

Eddy, Lieut. Henry G-, on foraging expedition, 185.

"Ed "Walsh," Mississippi steamboat, 87.

"E. H. Fairchild," Mississippi steamboat 39.

Eillinstine, 0., drowned, 43.

Elkhorn, Gen. , home of, 45; paroled, 41.

Elkton (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery near, 123.

Ellet, Col. Charles, commands Mississippi fleet, 39.

Elston, Albert D., at Etowah Bridge, 232.

"Emerald," Mississippi steamboat, 93.

Etowah (Ga.), railroad at, 239.

Etowah Bridge (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 229-268; pay received
at, 366.

Etowah Valley, expedition into, 258.

Evans, Alice, death of, 92.

Evans, David, sick, 11; punished, 194; on excursion, 354; in Louisiana,
37; at Etowah Bridge, 230; Huntsville, 184; Chattanooga, 305, 313,
316, 345; Kingston, 226, 228; Nashville, 288, 300-303, 361; Vieksburg,
68, 70, 72, 86; portrait, 128.

Evans, Corp. Evan W., forager, 16, 120, 178; on expedition, 211; guard,
189; sick, 11, 44, 82, 96; promoted, 188; gift for, 219; sister of, 92;
returns home, 252; correspondence with, 108, 262, 263, 265, 333; at
Bridgeport, 128, 148, 150, 154; Brownsboro, 162; Buntyn Station,
25-27, 31; Cartersville, 244; Chattanooga, 134; Corinth, 9, 12; Dick-
son Station, 113-115; Etowah Bridge, 231, 232; Glendale, 105;
Huntsville, 164, 166, 174, 181, 198, 202, 204, 206, 217; Kingston, 226-
229; Larkinsville, 158 159; Memphis, 28, 33; Moscow, 14; Vieks
burg. 80, 83, 84, 86, 89-91, 93; Waterloo, 117; Whitesburg, 202;
Whiteside, 149; portrait, 250, 364.

Evans, John E., at Chattanooga, 344-347.

Ewing's Battery, at Chattanooga, 136.

[376]

INDEX

FAXCHEU, Lieut. John W., recruiting officer, 239; at Spring Green, 1;

Vicksburg, 70; resigns, 87, 90.

Fancher, Rev. , at Vicksburg, 90.

Fayetteville (Tenn.), size, 126; railroad at, 125; 6th Wisconsin Battery

at, 123, 124.

Ferris, Corp. Stephen A., on furlough, 81; at Huntsville, 208.
Finn, Charles YvT., at Miliikens Bend, 46.
Fisher, George, hospital steward, 39.
Fisk, Gen. Stuart W., at Murfreesboro, 50.
Flamme, John A., portrait, 364.
Flannery, Hugh, portrait, 128, 364.
Florence (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 118, 119.
Forrest, Gen. Nathan B., threatens Huntsville, 197, 207, 211; defeated,

209; at Nashville, 283; Tuscumbia, 112.
FOKTS —

Arkansas Post, 31.

Creighton, 323.

Gillem, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 278-293.

Greenwood, enemy at, 43; assault on, 44.

Hall, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 191, 193, 202, 203.

Hill, described, 90; Missouri Brigade at, 257.

Phelps, drill ground near, 329.

Pillow, massacre at, 199, 207.

Morgan, captured, 245.

Negley, 28G; skirmish at, 280, 282, 287.

Sigel, fighting at, 287.

Sumter, ceremony at, 322.
Francois, Jules, portrait, 364.

Franklin (Tenn.), headquarters at, 289. See also Battles.
Franklin County (Tenn.), county seat of, 126.
Fremont, Jesse, Story of the Guard cited, 216
Fremont, Gen. John C., body-guard of, 246.
French, Gen. Samuel G., at Allatoona, 256.

Genius cf Christianity, cited, 306.

Georgia, described, 261; climate of, 259.

Georgia Railroad, excursion to, 350.

Germans, in Osterhaus's Division, 155.

Germantown (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 24, 103, 159.

Giddings, Lieut. Col. Grotius R., mustering officer, 365.

Gilbertsboro (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 121, 122, 160.

Giles, George W., discharged, 26.

[377]

INDEX

"Gladiator," Mississippi steamboat, 37, 94.

Gleasoris Companion, cited, 153.

Glendale (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin- Battery at, 105-109; pay received at,
366.

Goldsboro (N. C.), 15th Corps at, 325.

Goodman, Alvarado, at Bimtyn Station, 31.

Goodman, Thomas, at Bimtyn Station, 29; Helena, 98.

Goodwin, Sergt. Daniel, promoted, 251, 295; transferred, 296; at Chatta
nooga, 315, 316, 334; Etowah, 263; Nashville, 284; portrait, 364.

Gordon, William A., death of, 243, 246.

Grand Gulf (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 50, 51. See also Battles.

Grand Junction (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 11, 12, 104.

Grand Lake Landing (Ark.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 36, 37.

Grant, Gen. Ulysses S., lieutenant-general, 201, 324; reviews troops, 13,
147; in danger, 187; at Millikens Bend, 47; Oxford, 18; Talla-
hatchie River, 17; in Vicksburg campaign, 52, 55, 57, 59, 61.
63, 71, 76, 77, 226; Chattanooga campaign, 145; Richmond cam
paign, 208-210, 213, 215, 236, 318, 328; captures Lee, 321.

Graysville (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 144, 145.

Green, Peter under arrest, 178; punished, 237; at Huntsville, 175.

Grey, Robert, on furlough, 315, 316; at Chattanooga, 325.

"Gunboat No. 5," on Yazoo expedition, 42.

"HAMILTON BELLE," dispatch boat, 41.

Hamilton, Gen. Charles S., order from, 25; near Holly Springs, 15;
at Tallahatchie River, 17.

Hamilton, Sergt. William H., recruiting officer, 129, 179; promoted, 188;
sick, 75, 90; at Buntyn Station, 27; Corinth, 11; Dickson Sta
tion, 114; Lumpkin's Mill, 16; Memphis, 23; Oxford, 20; in
Vicksburg campaign, 54.

Hammond, Rasselas A., portrait, 364.

Hardee, Gen. William J., Confederate commander, 336.

Harding Pike (Tenn.), Nashville road, 293.

Hard Times Landing (La.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 51.

Harlow, Lieut. Edward G., at Bridgeport, 148.

Harpers Ferry (Va.), captured, 6.

Harper's Weekly, cited, 344.

Haskins, John G., death of, 10.

Hauxhurst, Sergt. Sidney, scout, 27; sick, 39; under arrest, 179; court-
martialed, 181, 186; at Buntyn Station, 28; Huntsville, 175, 213;
Moscow, 14; Vicksburg, 65.

Hawks Nest (Tenn,), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 269, 304.

[378]

INDEX

Hayes, Daniel \V., at Whitesburg, 202.

Hayes, Corp. Edgar F., on Yazoo expedition, 42; furlough, 129; pro
moted, 296; sick, 333; at Cartersville, 230, 234, 260; Chattanooga,
329, 336; Whiteside, 149; portrait, 128.

Hayes, Watson T., on furlough, 129.

Haynes Bluff (Miss.), Grant at, 61; troops, 63.

Kayward, Joseph G., injured, 10, 11; discharged, 28.

Haywood, Samuel, sick, 340.

Helena (Ark.), artillery at, 81; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 36-39, 41, 45,
46, 94-98; mail from, 71.

Helena (Wis.), Jones family at, 363.

Henderson (Uncle), negro cook, 253.

Henry, negro, 162, 163; sick, 187, 198.

Henryville (Ind.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 362.

Herron, Andrew, sick, 192, 194.

Herron, Gen. Francis J., Yazoo City expedition, 82.

Hill, Gen. Benjamin J., Confederate commander, 336.

Hill, Corp. Edward K., promoted, 251; at Nashville, 278.

Hill, George T., on furlough, 315; sick, 326.

Hillsboro Pike (Term.), 28p.

Holly Springs (Miss.), military depot, 18, 22; captured, 20; road to,
13; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 15, 16.

Holmes, Col. Samuel A., at Jackson, 58.

Holmes, William H., at Chattanooga, 336.

Holmes's Plantation (La.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 49.

Hood, Sergt. - — , at luka, 113; Huntsville, 173, 179, 180; Allatoona:
244.

Hoo-cl, Sergt. Alexander J., at Moscow, 14; portrait, 250, 364.

Hood, Gen. John B., in Atlanta campaign, 233, 245; Tennessee cam
paign, 253, 260, 262, 269, 279, 280-, 286; at Nashville, 277, 282, 284,
287, 288; defeated, 290.

Hood, Sergt. Joseph M., on furlough, 81; promoted, 112, 181. See also
Hood, Sergt. .

Hood, Nathan B., sick, 9; portrait, 364.

Hood Capt. Thomas R., recruiting officer, 129; drillmaster, 183, 218,
296; inspecting officer, 35; commands expedition, 191; on furlough,
84; imposes penalty, 296; sick, 325, 328; resigns, 338-340, 343; at
Buntyn Station, 25; Chattanooga 312, 314, 317, 322, 329, 336; Fort
Gillem, 280; Glendale, 106, 107; Helena, 97; Huntsville, 178, 207;
Lafayette, 24; Nashville, 274, 277, 283, 288, 292, 300, 302, 303;
Rienzi, 5; Vicksburg, 89-92; Whitesburg, 217; on Yazoo expedition,
39; portrait, 250.

[ 379 ]

INDEX

Hood, Wilson, at Glendale, 106.

Hooker, Gen. Joseph, in Chattanooga campaign, 129, 131, 132; at Mis
sionary Ridge, 142; Lookout Mountain, 330; retires, 235.

Hopefield (Ark.), burned, 36.

Hovey, Gen. Alvin P., at Jackson, 58.

Howard, Gen. Oliver O., request to, 249.

Hubbard, Lieut. Hiram F., at Chattanooga, 135.

Hudsonville (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 15.

Hughes, Benjamin C., at Nashville, 301.

Hughes, Hugh, sick, 47.

Hungerford, E. C., death of, 64.

Hungerford, Edwin R., sick, 7, 11; death of, 12.

Hungerford, Milton U., nurses brother, 190; on furlough, 30'3; at Chat
tanooga, 315, 341, 348; Nashville, 276, 278, 291; Huntsville, 177-179
186, 202; portrait, 364.

Hungerford, Thomas J., scout, 26; sick, 184, 186-190, 192; at Corinth,
9; Huntsville, 177-179, 204; Memphis, 28; Vicksburg, 64; mustered
out, 243; portrait, 128.

Hunter, Gen. David, inspector-general, 147; in Shenandoah Valley, 218.

Huntsville (Ala.), 158; threatened, 211; straggling at, 223; visit to,
272; troops from, 117; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 160, 163-210, 212-
221, 232; pay received, 366.

Hurlbut, Gen. Stephen A., reinforces Grant, 61.

Hutchinson, Sergt. Charles, sick, 189; promoted, 251, 296; at Chatta
nooga, 310, 315, 343, 346; Missionary Ridge, 308; Nashville, 301.

IDE, Jonathan 0., on furlough, 129.

Illinois, governor of, 48; 7th Infantry, 256; 13th Infantry, 211-213; 14th
Infantry, 209; 20th Infantry, 18, 55; 27th Infantry, 256; 56th In
fantry, 114, 203; 57th Infantry, 194; 63rd Infantry, 93, 193, 213,
219, 236, 254; 72nd Infantry, 38, 47; 81st Infantry, 63; 90th In
fantry, 142; 93rd Infantry, 40, 43, 142, 236, 239, 241, 257; lllth In
fantry, 187; 118th Infantry, 104; 4th Cavalry, 96; 5th Cavalry,
110; 1st Light Artillery, 361; Bolton's Battery, 60; Cogswell's
Battery, 112, 116, 135, 138, 140, 169, 172, 173, 196, 197, 199, 271;
McAllister's Battery, 62.

"Illinois," Mississippi steamboat, 93.

Illinois Central Railroad, 6th Wisconsin Battery on, 2.

Independent, sermon in, 86.

Indiana, election in, 108, 263; 15th Infantry, 218; 38th Infantry, 256;
43rd Infantry, 40; 48th Infantry, 23, 25, 27, 31, 32, 122, 172, 193,
195, 206, 226, 239, 241, 246, 254, 264; 59th Infantry, 20, 30, 172, 195,

[380]

INDEX

206, 211, 210, 239, 242, 255; 66th Infantry, 103; 03rd Infantry, 31;

142nd Infantry, 282; 13th Cavalry, 215; 20th Heavy Artillery, 353,

354.

Indianapolis (Ind.), 6th, Wisconsin Battery at, 362.
Iowa, election in, 108; troops from, 54; 5th Infantry, 48, 53, 142; 7th

Infantry, 180; 10th Infantry, 53, 66; 17th Infantry, 199, 206; 20th

Infantry, 70, 72, 32; 30th Infantry, 112; 31st Infantry, 55.
Iowa County (Wis.)> residents of, 29; election in, 267.
luka (Miss.), supplies at, 113, 114; 6th Wisconsin Battery, 110, 111,

129. See also Battles.
Ixonia (Wis.)f resident of, 44.

JACINTO (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery ordered to, 6.

Jackson, Serge. John B., sick, 64; at Corinth, 48.

Jackson, Corp. Thomas C., promoted, 295.

Jackson, Gen. William H., commands cavalry, 23.

Jackson (Miss.), expedition to, 82; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 56, 245.

See also Battles.

Jackson (Tenn.), railroad at, 12; captured, 21.
Jackson County (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 157.
Jacobs, Corp. Wilder B., promoted, 295.
James, Sergt. Hirarn P., promoted, 250, 357; transferred, 296; sick, 316,

317; at Nashville, 281.

Janesville (Wis.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 2.
"J. C. Swan," Mississippi steamboat, 89.
Jefferson (Wis.), Jones at, 19.
Jenawein, Lieut. John, inspecting officer, 171; election official, 267; on

foraging expedition, 190; transferred, 266; promoted, 112, 340,

350; commands battery, 170; at Chattanooga, 325; Etowah Bridge,

239; Huntsville, 175, 178, 192; Memphis, 28; Vicksburg, 91;

Whitesburg, 19 S.

"Jenny Lind," Mississippi steamboat, 40, 45.
"Jesse K. Bell," Mississippi steamboat 40, 44.
"John H. Dickey," Mississippi steamboat, 37.
"John J. Roe," Mississippi steamboat, 93.
Johnson, President Andrew, nominated, 218; succeeds Lincoln, 324,

344; attitude toward, 337.
Johnson, Enoch, death of, 220, 221.
Johnston, Gen. Joseph E., winter quarters of, 225; at Black River, 72;

Tallahatchie River, 101; captured, 325, 326; surrenders, 328.
Jones, Ellen L., school-teacher, 243, 335; correspondence with, 100, 108,

128, 153, 213, 317.

[ 381 ]

INDEX

Jones, Esther L., gift from, 292.

Jones, Corp. George B., sick, 11.

Jones, Griffith R., sick, 45, 86; at Vicksburg, 75.

Jones, Hannah L., correspondence with, 135, 178, 196, 249, 264, 283, 333,

335, 339, 349, 354; gift from, 223; at Albion, 243; reunion, 363.
Jones, James L., correspondence with, 29; injured, 38.
Jones, Jane L., correspondence with, 29, 171, 277, 335, 342, 354; at

school, 243; reunion, 363.
Jones, John L., correspondence with, 12, 19, 29, 34, 38, 65, 89, 116, 128,

146, 155, 160, 171, 194, 217, 249, 254, 260, 264, 265, 267, 277, 284,

288, 295, 297, 301, 308, 310, 312, 333, 339, 343, 346, 354, 358; gift

from, 182; at Madison, 1, 364; reunion, 363.

Jones, Margaret L., sick, 100; photograph, 231; at reunion, 363.
Jones, Mary L., good housekeeper, 42, 67, 146; correspondence with, 29,

34, 129, 317; gift from, 35, 292; at Madison, 364; reunion, 363.
Jones, Orren L., sick, 100.
Jones, Richard L., 94; correspondence with, 25, 307; at Lone Rock, 1;

reunion, 363.
Jones, Mrs. Richard L., 35, 74; nurse, 38; sick, 94, 110, 116, 186, 300,

301, 309, 312; gift from, 39, 182; at reunion, 363.
Jones, Thomas L., correspondence with, 12, 14, 19, 29, 34, 38, 68, 81, 88,

114, 129, 135, 136, 146, 148, 151, 168, 182, 195, 196, 213, 232, 243, 277,

296, 303, 30<6, 309, 327, 347; at Spring Green, 243; reunion, 363.
Jones, William, at Millikens Bend, 46; wounded, 75; death of, 82.

Jordon, Mrs. , death of, 184, 187.

Judah, Gen. Henry M., Wofford surrenders to, 335; at Chattanooga,

336.

Judson, Edward Z., (Ned Buntline) Ella Adams, 173.
"Julia," Mississippi steamboat, 98.

KANOUSE, Abijah W., at Chattanooga, 357.

Keene, Henry S., offers resolutions, 9; on furlough, 172, 181; at Etowah

Bridge, 239; portrait, 250.
Keeler, Lieut. Lucius N., forager, 16; sick, 64; promoted, 251, 357; at

Chattanooga, 314; Etowah, Bridge, 268; Huntsville, 195; Nashville,

272, 301.

Keller, John, at Huntsville, 174.
Kelly's Bend (Tenn.), supplies at, 136.
Kemble, Frances A., Journal of a residence on a Georgia plantation,

cited, 289.
"Kenset," Mississippi steamboat, 93.

[ 382 ]

INDEX

Kentucky, Confederate trcops from, 336; 5th Infantry, 234; 1st Cav
alry; 337; 2nd Cavalry, 337; 9th Cavalry, 337.

"Kentucky," Mississippi steamboat, 93.

Kilpatrick, Gen. Judson, troops of, 236; at Cartersville, 234, 235; Stiles-
boro, 262.

King, Andrew Jr., at Vicksburg, 92.

King, Franklin, death of, 360, 361,

King, Frederick, at Murfreesboro, 360; Nashville, 361.

Kingsbury, Alice (Maggie Mitchell), actress, 275, 276.

Kingston (Ga.), troops at, 229, 237, 239, 244, 268; 6th Wisconsin Bat
tery, 225-229; enemy, 255; surrender, 335.

Knapp, Corp- Augustus H., at Etowah Bridge, 235; Huntsville, 193, 206;
Nashville, 276.

Knoxville (Term.), troops at, 176, 307, 319; 4th Corps, 316, 327; Gen.
Thomas, 313.

Kokomo (Ind.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 362, 363.

Ladies' Repository, cited, 345.

Lafayette (Tenn,), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 24, 103, 159; Sherman,

107.

La Grange (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 13, 103.
LAKES —

• Lula, excursion to, 331, 354; described, 355.

Michigan, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 2.

Moon, expedition en, 39, 40, 45.

Providence, canal at 46.
Lamberson, Jay G., portrait, 364.

Landen, Samuel F., promoted, 251; at Chattanooga, 329; portrait, 3b4.
Larkinsville (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 157-161, 222.
"Laurel Hill," Mississippi steamboat, 86.
Lavergne (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 360.
Leach, Lyman R., under arrest, 181.

Lee, Capt. , inspecting officer, 186.

Lee, Gen. Charles, biography, 86.

Lee, Gen. Robert B., defeated, 208, 319, 320; surrenders, 6, 321.

Lee, Gen. Stephen D., marching north, 240; at Allatoona, 256.

Leffart, , forager, 16.

Leggett, Gen. Mortimer D., commands division, 213.

Lester, (Uncle) Joseph, supplies newspapers, 101, 126, 186, 241,

254; at Chattanooga, 148; Huntsville, 215; portrait, 128.
Lewis, Gov. James T., gubernatorial candidate, 120.
Liberty Point (Ala.), crossing at, 185.

[ 383 ]

INDEX

Lincoln, President Abraham, 318, 322; nominated, 218; elected, 265, 267;
inaugurated, 309; annual message, 153; call for troops, 291; gift to,
293; in Confederacy, 174; Emancipation Proclamation, 18; assas
sinated, 323, 344.

Little Rock (Ark.), expedition to, 95.

Logan, Gen. John A., commands division, 28; orders from, 184, 249;
reviews troops, 147, 197; guards railroad, 218; wounded, 218, 219;
staff officer, 245; at Cedar Mountain, 263; Huntsville, 163, 205;
Jackson, 58; Oxford, IS, 20; in Vicksburg campaign, 49, 53-55, 64,
68, 72, 73.

Longstreet, Gen. James, capture reported, 6; at Missionary Ridge, 140.

Lone Rock (Wis.), Jones family at, 1.

Lookout Mountain (Tenn.), excursion to, 334, 335. See also Battles.

Louisiana, excursion to, 37; surface of, 51; rumors from, 217; troops,
79; fleet, 42; 6th Wisconsin Battery in, 148.

"Louisiana," Mississippi steamboat, 36.

Louisville (Ky.), railroad center, 216; military center, 293; 6th Wiscon
sin Battery at, 361.

"Luella," Mississippi steamboat, 41, 45.

Lula Falls (Ga.), 331.

Lumpkin's Mill (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 16, 21.

MCALLISTER, Capt. Edward, commands battery, 62. See also Illinois.

McArthur, Gen. John, commands division, 46; at Vicksburg, 60.

McBride, Capt. , at Etowah Bridge, 255; Huntsville, 207, 208.

McCann, John C., sick, 189.

McClellan, Gen. George B., peninsular campaign, 6; presidential can
didate, 246, 249, 267, 288.

McClernancl, Gen. John A., at Vicksburg, 59, 60, 62.

McCook, Gen. Edward M., commands division, 345; marches north
ward, 262; defeated, 237, 238; at Cartersville, 242; Missionary
Ridge, 141.

McCormick, Cyrus H., reaper, 231.

MacMurray, Lieut. Jtinius W., reportsd killed, 87.

Macon (Ga.), railroad at, 226.

Macon Railroad, McCook reaches, 237, 238.

McPherson, Gen. James B., characterized, 156, 194; order from, 34, 80,
155; reviews troops, 197; remits penalty, 247; in danger, 187;
staff officer, 87; at Huntsville, 190; Jackson, 57; Providence, 46;
in Georgia campaign, 209; Vicksburg campaign, 53; death, 232,
233, 238.

[ 384 ]

INDEX

Madison (Wis.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 1, 2, 320, 363; Jones, 364,

365; pay received, 356; State Journal, 19, 64, 306, 316.
Madison Station (Ala.), military depot, 178; Indiana troops at, 216;

captured, 210, 211.
Malish, Sergt. Frederick, drillmaster, 194; promoted, 181, 250, 287,

357; at Nashville, 272, 281, 296.

Marden, Jeremiah G., at Chattanooga, 315; death of, 339.
Marietta (Ga.), military center, 246, 266; railroad at, 254.
"Mars," Mississippi steamboat, 96.
Marsh, Col. C. Carroll, at Oxford, 18.
Masons, influence of, 237; at funeral, 242.
"Masonic Gem," transport, 117.
Matthies, Gen. 'Charles L., characterized, 184; remits penalty, 188;

commands brigade, 205; division, 187; at Missionary Ridge, 140,

142.

Maurice, Maj. Thomas D., chief of artillery, 35.
Mazomanie (Wis.), excursion to, 364.
Medon Station (Tenn.), Jones at, 12.
Meigs, Gen. Montgomery C., reviews troops, 147.
Memphis (Tenn.), 65, 158; military center, 21. 26-28, 30, 108; mail at,

85; danger to, 101; troops at, 3S; 6th Wisconsin Battery, 22-25,

32-26, 80, 99-105, 109, 366; 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, 31; Bulletin, 23,

39.
Memphis & Charleston Railroad, 106, 109, 111, 114; at Bridgeport, 128;

6th Wisconsin Battery on, 24, 102-105, 111, 113.
Mendenhall, Maj. John , inspecting officer, 320; chief of artillery,

329, 332, 335, 346; at Chattanooga, 310, 311, 315.
Methodist church, preacher of, 210; member, 345; at Huntsville, 174,

178, 184, 193, 198, 199; Nashville, 297; Vicksburg, 82.
Methodist Advocate, cited, 306.
"Mica Jack Cave," described, 150.
Michigan, soldier killed, 15.
Miles, Col. Dixon S., captured, 6.

Miller, Dr. Clarkson, at Corinth, 8; Oxford, 19; Vicksburg, 84.
Miller, Henry W., at Helena, 98; portrait, 364.
Millikens Bend (La.), described, 93; equipments at, 68; convalescents,

65; 6th Wisconsin Battery, 46-48, 201, 366.
Milton (Wis.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 2.
Milwaukee Sentinel, cited, 4, 29.
Minnesota, 235; 4th Infantry, 32, 93, 176, 179, 180, 182, 183, 206, 229,

257; 10th Infantry, 219; 1st Heavy Artillery, 238, 341.

25 [ 385 ]

INDEX

Missionary Ridge (Tenn.), described, 331; camp at, 345; timber, 307,

308, 333; flowers, 314; enemy, 134; troops, 323; 6th Wisconsin

Battery, 138-144. See also Battles.
Mississippi, climate of, 50; surface, 51; military division, 302; troops

from, 79; 6th Wisconsin Battery in, 147.
Mississippi Central Railroad, 12, 104.

Missouri, troops in, 277; troops from, 54, 257; 2nd Infantry, 4; 10th In
fantry, 211, 236; 1st Artillery, 19, 22, 48, 56, 57, 83, 139, 276, 282.
Mitchel, Gen. Ormsby M., destroys bridge, 128.
Mitchell, Maggie. See Kingsbury, Alice.
Mobile (Ala.), captured, 325, 326.

Moccasin Point (Tenn.), described, '331; engagement at, 137.
Montgomery, Col. Louis M., at Vicksburg, 76.
Morgan, Gen. John H., property of, 119; at Huntsville, 195, 197.
Morrill, Edwin, at Buntyn Station, 26.
Morton, Gov. Oliver P., elected, 263.
Moscow (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 13, 14, 103.
Moss, Andrew J., sick, 187.
Moss, Pestalozzi B., dies, 180.
MOUNTAINS —

Cumberland, 331; crossed, 126, 127, 270; expedition to, 202; 6th Wis
consin Battery at, 163.

Kenesaw, Sherman at, 226, 228. See also Battles.

Lookout, 325; fortifications at, 307; enemy, 132-134; excursion to,
329-332, 354-355; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 224, 269, 304. See
also Battles.

Point Judith, 127.

Raccoon, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 126, 127.

Sand, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 131.

Smoky, 331.
Murfreesboro (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 360; 8th Wisconsin

Battery, 361. See also Battles.
Murphy, Michael W., death of, 186, 187.
Murphy, Col. Robert C., arrested, 7; at Holly Springs, 20.

"NAIAD Queen" or "Fairies Under the Rhine," drama, 283.

Napoleon (Ark.), inundated, 36; 6th Wisconsin Battery near, 94.

Napoleon (Miss.), Sherman at, 26.

Nashville (Tenn.), military center, 129, 155, 160, 170, 193, 200, 210, 212,

215, 243, 248, 263, 266, 313, 344, 360, 361; railroad at, 190, 218, 244,

245; newspapers from, 126; Hood at, 279; Illinois troops, 187, 199;

1st Wisconsin Cavalry, 347; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 269, 271-304,

366; Union, 289. See also Battles.

[386]

INDEX

Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, described, 270, 304; captured, 245;

severed, 246; abandoned, 197; 6th Wisconsin Battery near, 126,

156, 164, 165.

Nashville & Decatur Railroad, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 122.
"Ned," battery-horse, 149.
Neefe, Corp. Charles A., on furlough, 81; at Huntsville, 175; Vicksburg,

91, 92; portrait, 364.
Neefe, Julius F., on furlough, 81; portrait, 364.

Nelson, , at Vicksburg, 66.

New Jersey, regiment from, 25.

New Orleans (La.), passengers from, 98.

New Year's Day, celebration, 24, 159, 295.

New York (City), 317; military center, 291; industrial center, 239,

247; wounded soldiers at, 249; Tribune, 29.
New York (State), troops from, 57, 125.

Nicklin, Capt. Benjamin S., drillmaster, 324; assistant inspector-gen
eral, 350, 359; at Chattanooga, 340.
North, agriculture in, 170, 202; climate, 188; sanitary goods from, 191,

267; sick at, 219, 220, 223.
North Carolina, view into, 331; inhabitants of, 235; 8th Wisconsin

Battery in, 314.

OAK BARRENS (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 125.

Ohio, election in, 108; resident of, 345; troops from, 54; 1st Infantry,
234; 10th Infantry, 277; 80th Infantry, 193, 217, 229, 236; 5th- Cav
alry, 239; 1st Light Artillery, 360, 361; 10th Battery, 278, 279; llth
Battery, 10, 19, 22, 48, 60, 65; 14th Battery, 279, 287; 18th Battery,
332.

Osterhaus, Gen. Peter J., commands division, 107, 110, 113, 151, 152,
155, 156, 201; reinforcements for, 114; skirmishing, 112; at Jack
son, 58; Memphis, 99.

Oxford (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 17-21.

PADDLEFORD, Davis A., sick, 182, 189.

Paducah (Ky.), troops at, 278.

Page, Alvah B., killed, 76.

Palmer, Henry L., gubernatorial candidate, 120.

Parish, Corp. Frank W., promoted, 251; at Chattanooga, 320.

Parker, Jerome E., sick, 293, 297; on furlough, 312; at Bridgeport,

152; Buntyn Station, 29; portrait, 128.
Parton, James, Life of Aaron Burr, 84.
Patterson, Gen. Josiah, commands expedition, 212.

[387]

INDEX

Pemberton, Gen. John C., surrenders Vicksburg, 61, 76.

Pennsylvania, regiment from, 125; 73rd Infantry, 142.

Petersburg (Va.), Butler at, 208; evacuated, 209.

Phillips, Rev. , at Spring Green, 364.

Phrenological Journal, cited, 182, 184.

Pickard, Charles H., forager, 263, 284; at Chattanooga, 350, 351;
Etowah Bridge, 232.

"Pike," Mississippi steamboat, 43.

Piper, William M., at Vicksburg, 93.

Pittsburg Advocate, cited, 306.

Pocahontas (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 104.

Pocahontas," Mississippi steamboat, 37.

Pocataligo (Ga.), 15th Corps at, 317.

Pollok, Robert, Course of Time, 220.

Pontotoc (Miss.), Van Dorn at, 25.

Porter's Creek (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 104.

Port Gibson (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 51, 52. See also Battles.

Port Hudson (La.), surrender cf, 80.

Powell, Col. Albert M., chief of artillery, 87; at Moscow, 14; in Vicks
burg campaign, 52.

Powell, Maj. John W., chief of artillery, 272, 274; at Nashville, 285, 288.

Price, Gen. Sterling, defeated, 6; at Corinth, 7; in Mississippi, 18.

Proctor, , at Vicksburg, 92.

jProctor, Sergt. John W., promoted, 251, 295; at Chattanooga, 316; Ste-
yenson, 304; portrait, '364.

Prospect (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 122.

Providence (La.), Quinby at, 37; 6th Wisconsin Battery, 36, 46, 93, 94.

Pulaski (Ala.), troops at, 205.

Putnam, Col. Holden, on Yazoo expedition, 41, 43, 44; killed, 142.

QUINBY, Gen. Isaac F., commands division, 22, 25, 28, 35, 38; inspection
by, 13; remonstrance to, 33; sick, 47; on Yazoo expedition, 42; at
Jackson, 58; Lumpkin's Mill, 21; Millikens Bend, 46; Oxford, 18;
Providence, 37; Tallahatchie River, 17; Vicksburg, 67.

RALEIGH (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 103.

Randolph, Rollin H., captured, 119; sick, 312.

Raum, Gen. Green B., commands brigade, 203; at Allatoona, 255.

Ray, Corp. Alexander, sick, 11, 189; promoted, 251; at Chattanooga,

317; Nashville, 278; portrait, 364.

Raymond (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 546-556. See also Battles.
"Reb," saddle horse, 148.

[388]

INDEX

Reed, Joseph, biography, 86.

Reed, Levi, at Chattanooga, 315.

Resaca (Ga.), bridge at, 259; threatened, 261; troops at, 236, 264; 6th

Wisconsin Battery, 225.
Reynolds, Byron, penalty for, 296.
Richardson, Charles E., at Vicksburg, 92.
Richland County (Wis.), Jones family at, 1.

Richmond (La.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 48-50; 23rd Wisconsin, 47.
Richmond (Va.), Butler at, 208; Grant, 215; captured, 18, 209, 318;

evacuated, 309.
Ricker, Edwin, portrait, 364.

Rienzi (Miss.), 89, 333; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 3-7.
Ringgold (Ga.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 269. See also Battles.
Ripley (Miss.), road to, 6.
RIVERS —

Big Black, 122; communications with, 80; engagement at, 52, 72; 6th
Wisconsin Battery at, 52-54, 59.

Chattahoochee, 328; Hood at, 260.

Coldwater, expedition on, 41, 42, 44, 45; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 15.

Cumberland, 275, 280; described, 271; timber at, 212.

Elk, troops at, 120, 124.

Etowah, described, 225; flooded, 254, 258; 6th Wisconsin Battery at,
229-268.

Flint, camp at, 221; railroad, 216; equipments, 169; troops from,
211; 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 162-164.

Mississippi, 60, 217, 311; expedition on, 35-38; 6th Wisconsin Bat
tery, 46, 81, 93, 94, 98.

Ohio, crossed, 362,

Costanaula, crossed, 225; skirmish at, 241.

Paint Rock, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 161, 162, 221, 222.

Rappahannock, fighting at, 64.

Running Waters, accident at, 270.

Sequatchie, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 127, 131.

Tallahatchie, 42; crossed, 17, 21.

Tennessee, 200, 332; described, 330, 331, 341; crossed, 224; mined,
329; flooded, 310, 324; troops at, 143, 176; 6th Wisconsin Battery,
116, 118, 127, 193, 202, 203, 269, 308, 344; enemy, 132, 133.

White, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 36.

Y/isccnsin, bridges over, 129.

Wolf, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 13, 24, 99, 101.

Yazco, bridge, 60; expedition on, 42-44.

Yellow, 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 109, 110.

[389]

INDEX

"Robert Campbell Jr.," Mississippi steamboat, 35-37.

Robson, Henry, sick, 183.

Rocky Springs (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 54.

Roddey (Rhody, Rodney), Gen. Philip D., Confederate commander, 112,
219.

"Rodney," horse, 128.

Rogers, John, sick, 250, 293; at Nashville, 284.

Rogersville (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 120.

Rome (Ga.), railroad at, 226; troops from, 241, 256; 17th Corps at,
214; skirmish at, 261; wounded at, 258.

Rosecrans, Gen. William S., commands army, 99, 342; inspection by,
10; at Murfreesboro, 26, 285; in Tennessee campaign, 271; de
feated, 127.

"Rose Hamilton," Mississippi steamboat, 40.

Ross, Rev. , Presbyterian preacher, 201, 213, 218.

Ross, Gen. Leonard F., commands division, 38, 44.

Runyan, Sergt. William W., on furlough, 81; orders to, 162; on Yazoo
expedition, 42; at Buntyn Station, 31.

Russell Hill (Ala.), camp at, 164, 184, 195, 204, 212; excursion to, 173.

ST. Louis (Mo.), resident of, 245.

Salem (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 125.

Sanborn, Col. John B., commands division, 47; inspecting officer, 80.

Sanderson, Samuel A., portrait, 364.

Sands, Capt. Frank C., chief of artillery, 75.

Sanger, S., under guard, 31.

Sanitary Commission. See United States Sanitary Commission.

Sauk City (Wis.), resident, 26.

Savage, Sergt. Joseph N., on furlough, 83; at Vicksburg, 69, 75.

Savannah (Ga.), 317; siege of, 290; mail from, 296.

Scandinavians, in Wisconsin regiment, 270.

Schmidt, Frederick C., at Bridgeport, 154.

Scott, Sir. Walter, Ivanhoe, cited, 217.

Scottsboro (Ala.), marriages at, 219; 80th Ohio, 217; 6th Wisconsin

Battery, 157, 158, 222.

Seiders (Snyder), , forager, 158, 159.

Seiders, Philip J., portrait, 364.

Seward, William H., wounded, 323, 324.

Seymour (Ind.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 362.

Shenandoah Valley, Gen. Hunter in, 218.

Sheridan, Gen. Philip H., in Chattanooga campaign, 145; defeats Lee,

320.

[390]

INDEX

Sherman, Gen. William T., characterized, 260; commands army, 214,
230; equipment of, 231, 236; staff officer, 135, 136, 215; resolutions
to, 184; news from, 107, 209, 216; dispatches from, 208; orders,
114, 156, 235; dispatches for, 117; at Cartersville, 259; Huntsville,
190; Jackson, 57 ; Missionary Ridge, 140, 142; Kenesaw Mountain,
226; in Vicksburg campaign, 28, 58, 60;' Chattanooga campaign,
134, 139; Atlanta campaign, 213, 234, 245; Georgia campaign, 209,
240; Tennessee campaign, 253, 261, 262; march to the sea, 266, 268,
290, 291, 293; captures Johnston, 328; 6th Wisconsin Battery
with, 294, 295.

Shockley, Benjamin, wounded, 39.

Sigrist, Henry, portrait, 364.

Silsby, Amandus, wounded, 226; death, 340.

Silsby, Lieut. John, at Chattanooga, 135, 148, 269, 309, 313.

"Silverware," Mississippi steamboat, 51.

Simonds, George W., at Chattanooga, 315.

Simpson, Capt. James G., inspecting officer, 81, 176; drillmaster, 169,
353; disciplinarian, 253; adjutant, 177; ordinance officer, 295;
election officer, 267; orders for, 266, 361, 363; on furlough, 84;
discharged, 34; reinstated, 35; promoted, 346, 350; at Bridgeport,
152; Buntyn Station, 25; Chattanooga, 354, 357, 358; Corinth, 8,
9, 11, 110; Dalton, 269; Etowah Bridge, 250, 251, 255, 266; Fort
Gillem, 281; Grand Junction, 12; Huntsville, 169, 171, 172; luka,
111; Jackson, 57; Larkinsville, 160; Madison, 365; Murfreesboro,
360; Nashville, 263; Stevenson, 166; Vicksburg, 89; Yazoo expedi
tion, 40.

Slocum, Gen. Henry W., commands corps, 125.

Smith, Gen. Andrew J., at Nashville, 277, 278.

Smith, Gen. Edmund Kirby, surrenders, 328.

Smith, Gen. Giles A., at Burnsville, 110; Etowah Bridge, 233.

Smith, Gen. John E., commands division, 75; disciplinarian, 111, 119-
121, 168, 247; staff officer of, 242; body-guard, 245; orders for, 214;
orders from, 101, 167, 232, 236; on furlough, 187; reviews troops,
147, 197; guards railroad, 218; pursues Wheeler, 240; at Hunts
ville, 172; Missionary Ridge, 140; Whiteside, 149; on the Missis
sippi, 98.

Smith, Gen. Morgan L., commands division, 116, 135; at Chattanooga,
136.

Smith, Gen. William P., at Missionary Ridge, 139.

Smith, John Y., Wisconsin historian, 216.

Snyder, . See Seiders.

South, described, 37, 188; agriculture in, 170, 202, 322.

[ 391 ]

INDEX

Sparks, Jared, author, 86.

Spencer, Miss. , delicacies from, 21)5.

Spencer, George M., promoted, 251; at Chattanooga, 329; Corinth, 8;
Etowah Bridge, 230, 254; Huntsville, 218; Kingston, 226, 229;
Medon Station, 12; Nashville, 274; Vicksburg, 68, 89, 93; portrait,
128.

Spring Green (Wis.), Jones family at, 1, 3, 243; resident of, 301;
weather at, 382; delicacies from, 292, 293, 295; picnic at, 364.

Stanley, Gen. David S., commands cavalry division, 126.

Stanton, Edwin M., secretary of war, 318.

"Steam Nigger," Mississippi steamboat, 41.

Steednian, Gen. James B., staff officer of, 231; protection of, 342; in
Atlanta campaign, 234; negotiates surrender, 328, 332.

Steele, Gen. Frederick, in Vicksburg campaign, 54, 62.

Stevenson (Ala.), 158, 166, 223; railroad at, 205, 216, 218; flood, 310;
6th Wisconsin Battery, 129, 156, 222, 224, 270, 304.

Stewart, Corp. David S., promoted, 251.

Stev/art, John S., wounded, 348.

Stewart, William H., prisoner, 243, 244.

Stiles, Capt. Henry E., at Chattanooga, 314.

Stilesboro (Ga.), guerrilla center, 249.

Stolbrand, Maj. Charles J., orders from, 265, 266, 269.

Sturges, Lieut. Eben P., at Ivlurfreesboro, 360.

Sulphur Springs (Miss.), llth Ohio Battery at, 65.

"Sultana," Mississippi steamboat, 99.

Summer Town (Tenn.), described, 330; excursion to, 354.

"Sunny South," Mississippi steamboat, 101.

"Superior," Mississippi steamboat, 37.

Sweden's Cove (Tenn.), 6th V/isconsin Battery at, 127.

Sweet, Lieut. Alba S., drillmaster, 3, 183, 327, S29, 332, 333, 340; elec
tion official, 267; promoted, 181, 237, 250, 286; commands battery,
328, 338, 343; at Chattanooga, 308, 318, 326, 347, 358; Etowah
Bridge, 244, 254, 266; Lookout Mountain, 334; Vicksburg, 84.

Sweet, John M., at Ringgold, 269.

Sweet, Nicholas L., at Ringgold, 269.

Sv/eet, Lieut. Sylvester E., drillmaster, 3; election official, 267; aid
from, 13; promoted, 250, 286; at Buntyn Station, 25; Memphis, 28.

TALLALOOSA (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 22.
Taylor, Col. Ezra, at Missionary Ridge, 139.
"Tecumseh," Mississippi steamboat, 35, 36.
Telfair, Capt. Byron W., at Vicksburg, 70.

[392]

INDEX

"Tempest," commissary boat, 46.

Tennant, Menzo, on furlough, 303.

Tennessee, 331; loyal, 272; invaded, 143, 241, 286; troops in, 148, 319;
10th Infantry, 279; Confederate troops from, 336; 13th Infantry,
337.

Tennyson, Alfred, Enoch Arden, cited, 308.

Texas, rumors concerning, 327.

Thanksgiving Bay, celebration, 276, 278.

Thomas, Gen. George H., orders from, 357; protection of, 342; protest
from, 293; at Chattanooga, 124, 313, 327, 331; Missionary Ridge,
142; Nashville, 277, 285, 286, 361; pursues Bragg, 144.

Thomas, GrifSth, sick, 75, 244; on excursion, 354; at Bridgeport, 128,
152; Buntyn Station, 31, 32; Cartersville, 234, 249, 252, 262; Chatta^
nooga, 305, 307, 308, 311, 312, 316, 322, 325, 334, 336, 339, 346;
Etowah Bridge, 253; Glendale, 106; Huntsville, 165, 166, 174, 180,
ISO, 193, 138, 204, 217, 219; Larkinsville, 160; Memphis, 33; Mos
cow, 14; Nashville, 271, 274-276, 282, 283, 285, 288-293, 297-301, 303;
Vicksburg, 84, 92; portrait, 128.

Thomas, John, at New York, 249.

Thomas, Adj.-Gen. Lorenzo, inspecting officer, 47.

"Thomas E. Tutt," Mississippi steamboat, 96.

Tcm Brown's Mill (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 122.

Torrence, Col. William M., killed, 112.

Tourtellotte, Col. John E., at Allatocna, 257.

Trunkhill, Augustus, sick, 324.

Tullahoma (Tenn.), raid near, 186; railroad at, 245.

Tunnel Hill (Ga.) , Johnston's winter quarters, 225.

Tunnel Hill (Tenn.), llth Corps at, 141-143; excursion to,- 346. See
also Battles.

Tuscumbia (Ala.), enemy at, 112, 118.

Tutin, Benjamin, at Memphis, 99.

UNITED STATES administration, 248; contraband policy, 47; congress,
184, 191, 310; uniforms, 247; rolling mill, -341; 4th Cavalry, 117;
1st Battery, 59.

United States Christian Commission, at Chattanooga, 305, 306, 309, 316,
345; Helena, 97; Huntsville, 176, 178, 181, 216; Nashville, 297.

United States Sanitary Commission, goods from, 200, 205, 293; maga
zines from, 296; at Chattanooga, 305, 306, 308; Nashville, 290.

Tltica (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 54.

VALLANDIGHAM. Clement L., defeated, 108.
Van Brocklin, Isaiah, sick, 317; portrait, 364.

[ 393 1

INDEX

Van Dorn, Gen. Earl, at Corinth, 7; Pontotoc, 25; Byhalia, 26.

Vedder, Corp. John S., transferred, 343.

Vicksburg (Miss.), campaign against, 47-59; siege of, 26, 59-77, 101,
220; capture -of, 94, 210; equipments at, 100, 112; prison, 174; Mc-
Pherson, 194; Grant, 236; troops, 34, 96, 99, 257; 6th Wisconsin
Battery, 71-93, 130, 201, 204, 247, 366. See also Battles.

Virginia, campaign in, 6.

"Von Phal," Mississippi steamboat, 37.

WAITE, Lieut. Joseph W., at Chattanooga, 357.

Wallace, David, sick, 85; on furlough, 129; at Etowah Bridge, 230;
Huntsville, 186.

Wallace, Hiram, on furlough, 129.

Walport, Peter J., at Corinth, 48.

Warrenton (Miss.), troops at, 63.

Washington, George, anniversary celebration, 178, 307.

Washington (D. C1.), seat of government, 314, 318; military headquar
ters, 47, 235, 343; grand review at, 349.

Washington (Ga.), Jefferson Davis at, 336.

Waterford (Miss.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 15, 16.

Waterloo (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 117.

Welker, Maj. Frederick, orders from, 293.

Welsh, songs, T66; language, '307.

"Wenona," Mississippi packet, 41.

Wentworth, Andrew T., prisoner, 243, 244.

West Virginia, view into, 331.

Wheeler, Horatio F., at Memphis, 99.

Wheeler, Gen. Joseph, troops of, 337; severs railroad, 254; repulsed,
240; retreats, 245; at Dalton, 239; Tullahoma, 245.

White, Capt Carlos L., death of, 242.

"White Rose," Mississippi steamboat, 40, 42, 45.

Whitesburg (Ala.), skirmish at, 179, 180; troops, 176, 195, 211, 220;
6th Wisconsin Battery, 193, 194, 196, 198, 202. 203, 217.

Whiteside (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 149, 270, 272.

Wilkinson, Sen. Smith S., substitute for, 244.

Williams, Capt. George A., at Vicksburg, 59.

Williams, John, on Yazoo expedition, 44.

Williams, Gen. John S., Confederate commander, 337.

Williams family, at Etowah Bridge, 235, 262.

Wilson, Gen. James H., commands cavalry, 344.

Winchester (Tenn.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 125, 126.

[394]

INDEX

Wisconsin, 68, t>9; climate, 49, 51, 87, 107, 113, 146, 152, 1SS, 219, 259,
285, 326; agriculture in, 124, 225, 322; election, 120, 267; legisla
ture, 190; mechanics, 276; women, 192; mail from, 289; troops,
19, 100, 177, 190, 198, 214, 216, 244, 252; 8th Infantry, 7, 20, 278;
9th Infantry, 96; 10th Infantry, 278; llth Infantry, 39; 14th In
fantry, 213; 15th Infantry, 270; 17th Infantry, 213; 18th Infantry,
93, 114, 135, 166, 169, 199, 211, 220, 229, 236, 257; 20th Infantry,
70; 23rd Infantry, 21, 23, 26, 33, 47, 69, 71, 75, 83; 25th Infantry,
205; 28th Infantry, 44; 29th Infantry, 37; S3rd Infantry, 213; 44th
Infantry, 301; 1st Cavalry, 37, 125, 238, 244, 344-347; 2nd Cavalry,
31; 1st Battery, 51; 3rd Battery, 135, 313, 314, '320, 322, 357, 361;
5th Battery, 138; 7th Battery, 102; 8th Battery, 313, 314, 361; 10th
Battery, 226; 12th Battery, 10, 19, 32, 33, 35, 61, 72, 74, 98-100, 102,
109, 112,, 114, 124, 136, 146, 148, 149, 156, 158, 169, 171-173, 175, 176,
198, 206, 207, 210, 211, 215, 223, 229, 251, 258, 257, 2G5, 266, 268; 1st
Heavy Artillery, Co. C., 135.

Wofford, Gen. William T., surrenders, 328, '332, 335.

Wolf, John, forager, 120.

Woodville (Ala.), 6th Wisconsin Battery at, 162.

Wright, Lieut. Col. Joseph C., at Millikens Bend, 47.

Wyman, William W., sick, 11.

YATES, Gov. Richard, at Millikens Bend, 48.
Yates's Sharp-shooters, at Glendale, 105.
Yazoo City (Miss.), expedition to, 82.
Yazoo Pass, expedition on, 37, 40-42, 45.
Young's Point (Miss.), Grant at, 61.

ZTCKERTCK. Capt. William, at Etowah Bridge, 251, 255, 256.

395]